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Greenery is good for mental health says new scientific report

tcl has welcomed a report published this week which shows that even five minutes a day spent exercising in a green landscape, such as a park, is good for health and wellbeing.

The study of 1,250 people published in the Environmental Science and Technology Journal found fast improvements in mood and self-esteem when time was spent in such landscapes and suggested the strongest impact was on young people and those with a mental illness.

The biggest effect was seen within just five minutes.

A bigger effect was seen with exercise in an area that also contained water - such as a lake or river.

Study leader Jules Pretty, a researcher at the University of Essex, said those who were generally inactive, or stressed, or with mental illness would probably benefit the most from "green exercise".

Paul Farmer, chief executive of mental health charity Mind, said the research is yet further evidence that even a short period of green exercise can provide a low cost and drug-free therapy to help improve mental wellbeing.

"It's important that people experiencing depression can be given the option of a range of treatments, and we would like to see all doctors considering exercise as a treatment where appropriate."

Mind runs a grant scheme for local environmental projects to help people with mental illness get involved in outdoor activities.

tcl MD Simon Cashmore said the latest research was likely to spark greater demand for his firm’s sensory gardens – which are popular with schools, retirement homes and centres for people with special needs – and for its natural play areas which are commissioned by housebuilders, schools and local authorities.