But many experts now believe blue spaces, such as lakes and rivers, could be even more beneficial than green ones.
“Blue spaces provide us with distractions that take our mind away from the day-to-day hassles of life,” says Kate Campbell, a health psychology researcher at Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. “The sound of the crashing waves, the smell of salty air, the crunching of sand beneath our toes…The sensations relax our bodies and tell our minds to switch off.”
Campbell believes humans have “an innate predisposition” towards natural environments that once benefitted us as an evolving species. Natural spaces that provided pre-modern humans with food, comfort and safety are likely to provide a similar sense of ease even in today’s urban world. Spending time in blue spaces, says Campbell, can feel like “returning home”.
The concept of blue health emerged almost 10 years ago when researchers at the University of Sussex asked 20,000 people to record their feelings at random times. They collected over a million responses and found that people were by far the happiest when they were in blue spaces.
More recently, experts from Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) have found that spending time in blue spaces lowers the risk of stress, anxiety, obesity, cardiovascular disease and premature death.
Niamh Smith, a researcher at GCU and co-author of the study, says the team found an impact on both mental and general health from spending time in blue spaces. The research also linked time spent in blue space to a reduction in body mass index (BMI) and a lower risk of mortality.
“People really value the therapeutic space,” says Smith. “They love the sound of running water, having a reflective space to quietly sit, a place to clear your head away from the busy-ness of daily life.
“We know there are four main ways that blue spaces benefit health – through physical activity, stress reduction, providing a space for socialisation [and finally the] environmental factors that have a knock on impact on our health. For example, if a river is tree-lined, you have shade.”
In fact, blue spaces are so good for your health they can be now prescribed by your doctor.
Blue prescribing
“My depression comes in cycles,” says Harune Akthar, speaking from his West London home.
Around ten years ago, the 27-year-old was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, ADHD, depression and anxiety.
“When I had a bad day, it would take three to four days for me to come out of it,” he says. “I slept and ignored everyone including my family – and I love my family. I wouldn’t eat. You’d rarely see me.”
For years, Akthar tried a range of different therapies but didn’t find any that helped him. Then, in June this year, his doctor referred him to the Blue Prescribing scheme run by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), a charity.
After the first day, he didn’t think it was for him. By the end of the second, he couldn’t wait to go back.