Gardens
Why are gardens so important for us all?
Annie Pollock, consultant on access and garden design for older people and those with disabilities, explains why, post- pandemic, green outdoor spaces are more important than ever for our mental health and wellbeing
There are many benefits of being outdoors with nature in parks, gardens, and green spaces, including social contact with others, walking, and gardening. Green places can help people with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression and improve our cognition and mood – whereas being unable to go outdoors may be associated with depressive feelings.1 Lack of bright light can affect our circadian rhythm, and how we sleep – bright morning light through a window or from being outdoors can help with this.2 Walking keeps us healthy and improves our mobility, and fresh air can help us sleep. If our mobility prevents us walking any distance, a seat and good view can be very therapeutic.³
In this article I will focus on some often-neglected issues such as vitamin D, indoor and outdoor pollution, and cultural considerations. I will also cover the important issue of wayfinding in outside areas – and briefly touch on design for events such as the recent pandemic.
Vitamin D Another good reason for being able to access outdoor spaces is that as many as 1 in 6 adults in the UK have low levels of vitamin D. The government recommends that: ‘Everyone in the UK is advised to take a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms (400 international units) of vitamin D during the autumn and winter months (October to early March), when we cannot make vitamin D from sunlight.
November 2024
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
‘Vitamin D deficiency is associated with musculoskeletal disorders (osteoporosis), falls, fractures, autoimmune disorders, chronic inflammatory diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular, neurologic and psychiatric disorders... Primary factors, contributing to vitamin D deficiency, include reduced sunshine exposure, poor quality diet, availability of fortified foods and supplement use.’4
Getting outdoors when possible,
especially in the summer months, is therefore very beneficial for our health. When sunscreen is necessary, leaving the skin exposed to sun for around twenty
Getting outdoors when possible, especially in the summer months, is very beneficial for our health
minutes before putting it on, will allow our bodies to make vitamin D.
Being outside helps us all
We all benefit from the peace and quiet that green and attractive outdoor spaces can provide. This is especially true of people with disabilities.
Disabilities are not always visible. They include conditions often associated with older age, such as deteriorating eyesight, loss of hearing, loss of mobility, painful arthritis, diabetes, dementia – and in addition to these, disabilities that can affect people at any age, including depression, dyslexia, autism, colour blindness, and the results of accidents or injury. However, the leading cause of death in the UK for the last 10 years has been Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. There are over 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK today, with millions
39
© Annie Pollock
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
