Natural England

Natural England is bringing together national and international health experts with leading UK policy and opinion makers, on Monday 18 June, to agree a way forward to improve public health through contact with the natural environment.

The conference takes place at Lord’s Cricket Ground and will explore how access to high quality green space can increase the health and well being of individuals and communities.

Dr William Bird, Natural England’s health expert, says: “As a GP I see the day-by-day consequence of our lifestyle of inactivity and stress. The evidence that regular contact with the natural environment improves health and wellbeing is overwhelming particularly for children, the elderly and those living in deprived areas. The conference will look at how we can shift priorities towards reconnecting society with nature - A natural health service should exist within our national health service.”

Dr Helen Phillips, Chief Executive for Natural England says: “The conference marks a new partnership between the natural environment and the health of our nation. We are working with the worlds leading health experts and opinion leaders to find the best way to take this forward; placing the natural environment at the heart of reducing health inequalities and promoting wellbeing. Time is not on our side for the new generations of children getting further away from any contact with the natural environment.”

A new report ‘Natural Thinking’, written by Dr William Bird for the RSPB, is also released on Monday to coincide with the conference. In the report Dr Bird, who is now leading Natural England’s health campaign, provides evidence on how our mental health can benefit through contact with the natural environment.

Speakers at the conference include:

Howard Frumkin M.D., Dr.P.H.
Director, National Centre for Environmental Health, US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia US
Anna Coote
Head of Engaging Patients and the Public, Health Care Commission and Commissioner for Health at the Sustainable Development Commission
Jules Pretty OBE, FRSA, FIBiol
Head of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Essex
Billie Giles-Corti BapSc, MApSa, PhD, MAHPA, MPHA
Professor in the School of Population Health at the University of Western Australia and is currently establishing the Centre for the Built Environment.
Christine Hancock
European Director of the Oxford Health Alliance.

Four generations from one family living in Sheffield from 1919 to 2007 will present to conference delegates what access to green space means to them and the role it has played in the childhoods of the older generations, compared with that of younger generations; illustrating the reduced area of space that an 8 year old is allowed to go with friends.

 

See full press release