Trees for healthier communities

Woods and trees have a huge role to play in creating and sustaining healthy communities, as recognised by Natural England in its new ‘Natural Health Service' manifesto.  However, fewer than 15 per cent of people currently live within easy walking distance of a wood despite the recognised health benefits woods provide in encouraging exercise, helping reduce the mental stresses of modern life, and improving air quality. A study suggested that doubling tree cover in the West Midlands could reduce excess deaths due to air borne particulates by 140 a year, in addition to reduction in chronic respiratory conditions. The economic impacts of this sort of change are enormous.

via Articles · Future Countryside.

Andrew Church and I presented the attached presentation to the UIBEN networks meeting on the 9th November 2009. The day was filled with an exchange of ideas, information and experiences from around the network. Some interesting perspectives on new ways to research an understand individudal behaviours were explained. For example, using bluetooth technology in mobile phones to capture social contacts and thus model the potential for spread of disease; examning the influences and triggers for individual decision making; testing the role of animals in determining human behaviour; and quantifying the well being effect of natural ’soundscape’ music through MRI scans.

There were plenty of opportunities to discuss links between networks; areas for future collaboration and potential for the UIBEN to focus on primary goals for research in this area in the future. All the presentations will be circulated to those at the meeting to get comments on where areas of commonality had been identified and where there are gaps.
uiben-ohn-presentation-nov-09