This month Green Health Weeks runs from Saturday 13th to Friday 19th May. Scotland’s Nature blog takes a look at what green health is, why it’s so important and what we’re doing to encourage it.
Scotland’s great outdoors is outstanding and provides a wealth of amazing places for physical activity and connecting with nature – all of which we know can help improve our health and well-being.
The good news is that lots of people are already getting active in the outdoors, with the Scottish Household Survey showing that participation in ‘recreational walking’ increased from 56% to 70% of adults in Scotland between 2007 and 2017.
With continued pressure on public sector resources, encouraging more engagement in ‘green exercise’ such as outdoor recreation, relaxation, volunteering, play and learning, gardening and active travel can also help to bring a range of social benefits.
NatureScot, with partners including NHS Health Scotland, the Scottish Government and Scottish Land and Forestry, is working to show how greater use of the outdoors can help to tackle some of our big health challenges like physical inactivity, mental health issues and health inequalities.
Four pilot Green Health Partnerships, led by the area health boards and local authorities, have been established in Lanarkshire, North Ayrshire, Dundee and Highland. They bring together health, environment, leisure services, transport, education, sport, academia, local communities and the voluntary sector to show how the outdoors – Our Natural Health Service – can support local healthcare priorities.
In a nutshell, the partnerships aim to co-ordinate increased physical activity and improvements in mental health through helping people engage with the natural environment.
In Arran, Eco Savvy are making plans for Green Health week:
Join us for a Health Walk on Tuesday 16th May!
Exploring the south part of the Fisherman’s Walk and historic Douglas Row: The walk is 1.8 miles, mostly flat and includes pavements, paths that may be muddy in places and a board walk. Meet at 11am at the Ormidale Pavilion.
The walk is free but we ask that you pre-book your space by emailing StrollWithItArran.ecosavvy@gmail.com or phone 01770 860 427.
Followed by a pop up Zero Waste Cafe at the Pavilion
We will be hosting a pop up Zero Waste Cafe at the Ormidale Pavilion from 12pm-4pm. There will be a tasty soup, healthy baking, refreshments, our zero waste range and local produce available.
We will also have a recipe sharing table and seed swap available.
Our friends at Arran Repair Cafe will be there for the day and Arran Wellbeing Cafe CIC will be running a wellbeing session from 2pm onwards.
