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Our Natural Health Service
Our Natural Health Service
22 July 2009
Did you know that people who live close to a park are more likely to lead active lives and less likely to be overweight? A recent study commissioned by Natural England found that people living in neighbourhoods more than a mile from a park had a 27 per cent greater chance of being overweight or obese.
The study proved what might seem to be common sense – that people are healthier if they live within an attractive natural environment.
Natural England wants to encourage everyone to make the most of their green space. We believe our parks, woodlands, and countryside, even our tree lined streets are a major resource that can help us combat rising levels of diseases such as diabetes, obesity and depression.
A new campaign, Our Natural Health Service, wants to ensure that every one in the country has good access to green space and that our health services make better use of it.
| Year | 1993 | 2006 | 2010 | 2050 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | 20% | 24% | 30% (prediction) | 60% (prediction) |
Natural England has two key aims for the Natural Health Service
To increase the number of households that are within five minutes walk of an area of green space of at least two hectares
To enable every GP or community nurse to be able to signpost patients to an approved health walk or outdoor activity programme.
Here’s how anyone can get involved:
Try our Green Space checker
to measure the quality of parks and patches of nature where you live (our quick questionnaire will only take a minute)Find a health walk group
near where you live.Find out about events on National Nature Reserves near you.
More information
Read our Natural Health Service press release
Summary of recent research on green space and health: (298kb)
An estimate of the economic and health value and cost effectiveness of the expanded WHI: (234kb)
