Sensory garden specialist welcomes mental wellbeing report
A company which specialises in creating sensory gardens and natural play areas has welcomed a report 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. Admiral Play said the study, published in the Environmental Science and Technology Journal, reinforced its own research which underlines the health and social benefits of spending time in a natural environment.
Admiral Play creates sensory gardens for nurseries, schools, and centres for people with special needs as well as natural play areas for schools and local authorities. Admiral Play MD Simon Cashmore says the Journal’s study of 1,250 people, which found fast improvements in mood and self-esteem when time was spent in such landscapes, tallied with feedback they have received from clients over the years. The report suggested the strongest impact was on young people and those with a mental illness and the biggest effect was seen within just five minutes.
An even greater 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". He said green exercise should be developed for therapy purposes and that children’s learning should include working in outdoor settings.
For more information on Admiral Play visit www.admiralplay.co.uk or phone Simon Cashmore on 01604 821843.