Our colleague Dr Amy Mizen, based at Swansea University Medical School, has written a blog for the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales describing the NIHR funded Green-Blue Spaces Study. The team have also produced a short video on the outcomes of the first stakeholder workshop.

The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales is responsible for delivering the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. The Well-being of Future Generations Act requires public bodies in Wales to think about the long-term impact of their decisions, to work better with people, communities and each other, and to prevent persistent problems such as poverty, health inequalities and climate change.

The Green-Blue Spaces Study, which aims to investigate whether changes in access to the natural environment – due, for instance, to the provision of a new park or changes in landuse – has an impact on people’s mental health, will contribute to most of the Act’s wellbeing goals, but most obviously to those relating to health, environment and equity:

A Resilient Wales

“A nation which maintains and enhances a biodiverse natural environment with healthy functioning ecosystems that support social, economic and ecological resilience and the capacity to adapt to change.”

A Healthier Wales

“A society in which people’s physical and mental well-being is maximised and in which choices and behaviours that benefit future health are understood”

A More Equal Wales

“A society that enables people to fulfil their potential no matter what their background or circumstances“

You can read Amy’s blog on the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales‘s website.

The Green-Blue Spaces Study project is funded by the NIHR Public Health Research (project number or ref PHR – 16/07/07)