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Environment and Health
119
One unexpected consequence of
the transition to urban settings has
been that many people have lost the
intimate connection their ancestors
had with nature. The newly adopted
indoor lifestyles are often associated
with reduced exercise; increasing
rates of obesity, diabetes and heart
disease; and higher incidence of
depression. Recent figures for the
UK indicate that adults now spend
only 20% of their time outside,
while for children the value is 9%.
The health impact in terms of heart
disease is comparable to that of
smoking (Killoran et al., 2006).
In fact, lack of physical activity
accounts for about 1.9 million deaths
worldwide annually (WHO, 2004).
Green Spaces and Health
The natural environment can play
an important role in reducing this
burden of chronic disease. Recent
research published in
Nature
examined the protective effect of
biodiversity and concluded that
species loss in ecosystems such
as forests and fields may lead to
increases in disease incidence for
humans and animals through
increased pathogen transmission
(Keesing et al., 2010). Motivating
people to spend time participating
in one or more of a range of outdoor
activities in natural environments will
help maintain good health. When
people are outdoors they tend to
be active, whether taking a gentle
walk or a dip in the sea, gardening
or participating in more vigorous
activities such as surfing or long-
distance running. The availability
of high-quality green spaces (parks,
woods, countryside) and blue spaces
(ponds, river banks, lakeshores and
seashores) helps to foster activity on
the road to better health (UKDH,
2009). A survey conducted in eight
European cities shows that people
who live in areas with high levels of
greenery are three times more likely
to be active and 40% less likely to be
overweight or obese (Ellaway et al.,
2005).
An estimated 2,000 people die
prematurely due to obesity-related
illness in Ireland each year (National
Taskforce on Obesity, 2005). While
diet clearly has a large part to play in
tackling this major threat to human
health, good physical planning can
also play an important part. There is
growing evidence that well-designed
built environments and public green
spaces enhance physical activity
patterns and reduce the risk of
injuries. The planning authorities
need to ensure that development
enhances the quality of life in Irish
communities. Houses and estates
scattered around the country, poorly
linked by public transport and
dependent on private cars, militate
against physical activity. In the Dublin
region, 100,000 people drive 4 km
or less to work and 45,000 drive
just 2 km or less. At a national level
420,000 workers and students
travel by car less than 4 km to their
destination each day. Safe walking
and cycling paths and accessible
sports facilities have a major role
to play in tackling this important
public health problem. Urban
and rural planning should include
sufficient green spaces in towns and
cities and adequate infrastructure
to allow access to natural areas
in the countryside. The objective
of a healthier population living in
a healthier and more sustainable
environment is included in the
Government’s
Your Health Is Your
Wealth
policy initiative (DOH, 2011).
Research has shown a positive impact
on mental health from exposure to
the natural environment (SDC, 2008).
As well as tangible improvements in
wellbeing, activity in green spaces
has been linked to improvements
in social networking, feelings of
connectivity and companionship,
an increased appreciation of
nature and improvements in self-
esteem. An additional benefit is
that reconnecting with natural
environments highlights their
importance and why they need to
be managed in a sustainable way.
National Loops Initiative
Since 2008, 200 looped walks have been developed throughout
the country. Ranging from short strolls to long hikes, these
well-marked trails offer walks that start and finish at the same
trailhead and require little in the way of navigation skills. The
walks are grouped under a number of themes including Nature,
Island, Mountain and Coastal; all have strong linkages with their
natural environments and with local heritage.
Each looped walk comes with a downloadable map and a
detailed description of the route, including length, what the
terrain is like and the difficulty level. In addition, each description
includes details on wildlife that might cross the path or historical
artefacts to look out for.
The walks were developed with support from Fáilte Ireland
and other public bodies as well as local groups and landowners.
www.discoverireland.ie/things-to-do