Green Care: A Conceptual Framework - Frisk i naturen

in urban and rural areas, and often it is those who do not access nature
who could benefit from it the most. These barriers are varied and recent
studies have shown that there are physical, social and cultural reasons why
people do not access nature, even if there are local greenspaces present
(see: Countryside Recreation Network. 2001; Pretty et al, 2005). When
deciding on or developing a greenspace to be used for green care activities,
maximum accessibility and inclusion will be achieved when these barriers
are addressed.
Accessibility is therefore a factor of person-environment fit and refers to
the degree to which people with different abilities are able to access the
environment. Physical accessibility is often emphasized due to planning
norms or regulation in different countries; cognitive accessibility refers
to the environment in which the information needed to move and act is
understandable to the users; and social accessibility includes welcoming
atmosphere and the feelings of security and safety.
In green care environments different levels of accessibility can be
implemented depending on the functional abilities and needs of clients
and the targets of interventions. The norms for physical accessibility are
relatively universal, so they can be applied rather broadly in different
environments and concern the dimensions, inclination and deviation of
pathways, paving materials, and colours, the placement of signing and
resting places and what kind of furnishing to use (for example, SuRaKu,
2008). Practical considerations regarding vegetation would preclude
poisonous, thorny and common plants causing allergic reactions; plants
which drop their fruits or berries on the pathways; dense vegetation
which may obstruct movement and visual exploration. In addition to
practical considerations, participants must also feel welcomed and safe,
in a culturally sensitive environment and at ease in the chosen natural
environment. Physical, cognitive and social accessibility are particularly
important considerations for green care where greenspaces are targeted for
use by vulnerable people.
5.3.2 Urban greening
In addition to providing accessible greenspaces for urban populations, and
for use in green care settings, the ‘greening’ of our cities can bring varied
environmental, health, economic and social benefits and so can contribute
60 Green Care: A Conceptual Framework