The science bit – Why green spaces feel good

You’ve probably felt it yourself. Green spaces feel good! You find a lovely green space to relax in, whether it’s a city centre park, village green, garden, patio, farmland, forest or countryside. Give it a few minutes and you feel a pleasurable lift, a little natural ‘high’. You feel yourself chilling, smiling, feeling great.

Humans are hard-wired for nature. Being amongst plants in general, trees in particular, boosts our mood. It’s thanks to the unique chemicals released by our woody friends. While we can’t see or smell them, they’re sheer magic. And that’s just one reason why spending time in the green stuff is good for our wellbeing, bringing us harmony.

All this means our gardens and outdoor spaces, no matter what size or style, are more precious than ever. Let’s explore the wonder of the great outdoors. Here’s the science behind why green spaces feel good.

Essential vitamin D

We all need a good daily dose of vitamin D, which we mostly get from sunshine. Back in 2019, New Scientist magazine reported on the dangers of not getting enough exposure to the sun. Very few of us in the northern hemisphere get enough sunshine, especially through winter, and that’s why scientists say vitamin D tablets are one of the very few dietary supplements worth taking.

As scientists say in another article, “Light levels help to regulate alertness and mood. We also rely on sunlight to convert cholesterol in the skin into vitamin D, which helps build strong bones, and plays a beneficial role in our immune system. Some headlines even suggest that sunlight could and help protect us from the coronavirus.” 

When we smother our skin with sun block we prevent it from absorbing vitamin D. There are signs the Western world’s obsession with avoiding the sun is damaging our health – and our children’s. If we want to avoid developing rickets, a disease we get from being deprived of vitamin D, the trick is to be sensible. Yes, get sunshine on your skin. Just don’t let yourself burn.

The strange magic of trees

The past few years have seen an explosion in research finding solid links between increased exposure to nature and improved physical and mental health. Trees cool the land surface temperature in cities by as much as 12%. But there’s a lot more to trees than urban temperature control. Trees may actually have a heart beat, as discovered by science in 2019. Tree stumps that by rights should be dead are kept alive by the trees that surround them, sometimes for years. How lovely is that?

Some say if we’re aware of trees, they are almost certainly aware of us in ways we don’t yet understand. They even form their own societies. As one tree scientist said in 2021, “trees … interact in really sophisticated ways as a cohesive, holistic society.” In 2012 scientists reported that “There are vegetable versions of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch – and they’re remarkably similar to our own”.

Phytoncides are special chemicals given off by trees. They make us feel really good. As one researcher says, “Visiting forests on a relatively regular basis can be a good health-promoting practice, since, by reducing stress levels and boosting immune function, it seems capable of diminishing the incidence of stress-related and lifestyle-induced illnesses, varying from cardiovascular, respiratory, or metabolic diseases to neuropsychiatric conditions and, possibly, even cancer.” No wonder there’s a growing trend for Forest Bathing.

Get out in your garden and go alfresco!

All this means being out in your garden, or indeed any green space, comes with more benefits that you could have imagined for your mental, emotional and physical self. How cool is that? There you go – it’s an instant, scientifically proven reason why you should grab the family, call your friends, and create an alfresco lifestyle that sees you spending more time than ever outdoors, all year long.

Now you know why green spaces feel good. Our garden leisure products are designed to support a wonderful outdoor life. Take a look around our shop and have an awesome time in the garden as well as getting all the amazing health benefits provided by the green stuff.