Author Archives: Becca Lovell
A systematic review of the health and well-being impacts of school gardening
Our review of the benefits of school gardening activities has been published in BMC Public Health. School gardening programmes are increasingly popular with several high profile initiatives to encourage and support activity; examples include Jamie Oliver’s Kitchen Garden Project and the Royal Horticultural Society’s Campaign for School Gardening. The RHS aim to support teachers to […]
Going greener: does the natural environment really help health and wellbeing?
Ben Wheeler contributed an article to the latest edition of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy’s magazine ‘Frontline’. In the article Ben considers the evidence for how natural environments relate to health outcomes. It has long been thought that interacting with natural environments can benefit health and wellbeing. For example, the restorative potential of urban parks […]
Presentation at the House of Lords’ Rural Economy Research Group
On the 28th October, Becca Lovell and Ben Wheeler presented the Centre’s research at the House of Lords. At the annual meeting of the Lords’ Rural Economy Research Group sponsored by Lord Trees, we presented a selection of research, with a focus on studies of the potential health and wellbeing benefits of natural environments. The […]
Arguing for the value(s) of natural environments to health
Yesterday I was in Northampton to present at the Greener Northants LNP annual conference. I discussed our research, and that of others such as CRESH, and tried to argue that the environment (alongside many other features of our societies and communities) should be recognised (and valued) for it’s role in promoting, supporting or damaging our […]
Prioritisation workshop on the health values of natural environments for decision making
Join us for a prioritisation workshop on the health values of natural environments for decision making 26th October from 10:30am to 5pm at Defra, Nobel House, Westminster, London. **Final few places remaining** For more information please contact Becca Lovell The aim of the workshop is to collaboratively identify, discuss and prioritise effective strategies and opportunities […]
Are conservation activities good for you?
We have known for some time that natural environments are associated with good health and wellbeing. We also know that living in a safe, clean and cared for place is important. However what has been less clear is whether the act of looking after the outdoor environment is good for you. We used a relatively […]
Developing priority research questions about ecosystem services and health
Our colleague at ECEHH Dr Ruth Garside has organised a workshop at the 2014 Ecohealth conference in Montreal, Quebec Ecohealth Workshop. Montreal. 11 August 2014 1pm-4:30pm Get involved! We need your expertise! To sign up or if you have any queries contact Ruth Garside There is increasing interest in improving the evidence about linkages between […]
Is biodiversity conservation key to good mental health?
Mental Health Awareness week runs from 12-18th of May 2014 and in collaboration with our colleagues at the University of Reading we have written an article for The Conversation which examines how biodiversity loss might have implications for mental health. By Natalie Clark (University of Reading) and Rebecca Lovell (European Center for Environment and Human […]
Using systematic review to characterise the links between biodiversity, health and wellbeing.
Picture © Karen Matthews In a recent paper in the Lancet, Chalmers et al. argued that investment in additional research should always be preceded by systematic assessment of existing evidence. The reason for this is to reduce waste through duplication but also to enhance the likelihood of identifying the most effective research techniques. Ever at the […]
Beyond Greenspace Symposium: RGS London. June 18th 2014
**NOW FULLY BOOKED** Picture © Karen Matthews The Beyond Greenspace team are holding a meeting on the 18th of June at the Royal Geographical Society, London, to discuss the results of our research with the wider community of environment-health policymakers, practitioners and researchers. Download the Beyond Greenspace Symposium timetable Please join us if you are interested […]
Beyond Greenspace 