Why parks are good for our health
Parks can have a profound impact on our health and well-being. They serve as places for leisure and recreation; somewhere we can meet friends and family, get some exercise, sit and read, relax, or simply take a walk.
Many larger parks are also places of entertainment, hosting a schedule of events, community projects, and live performances throughout the year.
Parks and green spaces are good for our physical health as they encourage exercise, which in turn can help reduce stress and anxiety. In the United Kingdom, they provide people with over £34 billion of health and well-being benefits, according to charity Fields in Trust.
The benefits are the result of people regularly using parks and green spaces, giving them greater life satisfaction and improved physical and mental health, the charity’s recent research suggests.
Another study, carried out by a team from the European Centre for Environment and Human Health at the University of Exeter, reported that living in an urban area with green spaces has a long-lasting positive impact on people's mental well-being. It’s an opportunity to engage with the nature on your doorstep – the sight of a bird, squirrel or a beautiful tree can lift the spirits.
Urban green spaces also play a crucial role in temperature regulation, flood management, sound absorption, and carbon storage. Trees improve air quality and provide a source of shade, which is important during the summer months, and are important habitats for wildlife.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, our parks and green spaces played a particularly important role in our physical and mental wellbeing and were a lifeline for those of us without gardens providing us with fresh air, exercise and sunshine. Parks allowed us to de-stress through engagement with nature and to get away from the house and the 24-hour news cycle.
Now that summer is here, it’s a great time to go and enjoy your local park. At Cosyfeet, we sell a variety of products such as rollators and walking sticks that can support those who find getting out and about a bit more of a challenge.
Take a look in our walking and exercise collection today. Also, making sure that you are wearing the correct footwear, such as extra roomy wide shoes when walking in parks can help you enjoy the outdoors more comfortably.