Green Care: A Conceptual Framework - Frisk i naturen

There is also a growing body of evidence on the positive relationship
between exposure to nature (incorporating a variety of outdoor settings,
from the open countryside, fields and forests, to street trees, allotments and
gardens) and an individual’s mental health (see, for example, Bird, 2007;
Hartig et al, 2003; Mind, 2007). The key message emerging is that contact
with nature improves psychological health by reducing pre-existing stress
levels, enhancing mood, offering both a ‘restorative environment’ and a
protective effect from future stresses.
Combining the effects of physical activity and contact with nature on
psychological health, recent studies have found that ‘green exercise’ (the
synergistic effect of engaging in physical activities whilst simultaneously
being directly exposed to nature) results in significant improvements in
self-esteem and mood measures, as well as leading to significant reductions
in blood pressure (Pretty et al, 2005a & 2005b, 2007; Peacock et al, 2007;
Hine et al, 2008).
Recent research also suggests that therapeutic applications of facilitated
green exercise activities (particularly walking) as ‘green exercise therapy’
may prove to be an even more effective treatment response than exercise
alone in mild to moderate depression as it encourages people to re-connect
with nature and experience the additional positive health benefits that are
associated with this (Peacock et al, 2007; Mind, 2007). In Australia there
has also been some research initiated into the participation in forest and
woodland management as a treatment for depression (Townsend, 2006).
The pilot project engages people experiencing depression in naturebased
activities in a woodland environment. The project is on-going but
initial findings suggest encouraging improvements to physical and mental
health, along with a reduction in social isolation. Using green exercise as
a treatment for mild to moderate depression can be considered a form of
green care.
4.5 Ecotherapy
Ecotherapy as an approach has been proposed as a form of practice since
the mid nineties (Roszak, 1995; Clinebell, 1996; Burns, 1998). George W.
Burns, an Australian clinical psychologist and hypnotherapist developed
what he termed ‘ecopsychotherapy’ and ‘nature-guided therapy’. His
primary thesis was that a positive relationship with the natural world is
42 Green Care: A Conceptual Framework