3) How do woodlands engender Health and Wellbeing?

For people who are not accustomed to physical activities as well as those who are socially excluded, woodlands offer some unique enabling characteristics.

Woods as non authoritarian, inclusive environments

Gyms and sports fields can often appear authoritarian and intimidating or conjure up unpleasant memories of school days. Woodlands however present a more relaxed, inclusive environment. Our fundamental attraction to nature, which some researchers have termed as Bio-philia is believed to be emotionally important to us all and continuous access to this environment can result in positive changes in self-definition⁶. Contact and learning in a woodland environment can improve self-confidence and self-esteem⁴.

Woods as physically attractive and accommodating environments

Woodlands have a high carrying capacity especially when compared with sports fields. They can accommodate a large number of people without feeling overcrowded. Health practitioners often encounter difficulties in effecting long-term changes in physical activity and emphasise the need for safe and attractive environments to achieve this². Woodlands are also pleasant to be in because they absorb noise and pollution and reduce the risks of sunburn or sun stroke.

Woods as multifunctional environments

For inactive individuals physical activity for its own sake can be intimidating. The incentive to exercise by participating in enjoyable activities is paramount to effecting sustained changes in lifestyle. It is important to provide a variety of activities to promote wellbeing³ Woodlands offer a multifunctional facility where people can participate in walking, horse riding, cycling, environmental arts, green woodworking, conservation and woodland management activities.

Woods as attention restorative environments

Anxiety and depression have been attributed in some cases to fatigue created when attention is directed to specific tasks. Woodlands provide a visually entertaining environment through the movements of leaves, birds and animals, attracting our attention involuntarily, which has a restorative effect on our emotional state¹. In studies⁵ the benefits that children gain when using green space, such as increased attention, occurred not only during the time that the children spent playing in green settings but also was sustained in a way that did not occur when they played indoors.

Woods as cost effective, ready made and accessible facilities

There are 286 thousand hectares of woodland in Wales much of which has public access. With a few exceptions, most of the 118 thousand hectares of Forestry Commission woodlands in Wales have full public access. There are numerous woodland organisations and community woodland groups formed to facilitate access and participation. Much of this woodland resource is situated in areas of high deprivation where sports facilities are at a premium. Woods provide a ready made and free facility, with no membership fees required.

1. Kaplan, S. (1995). The restorative benefits of nature: towards an integrative framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology.

2. Laitakari, J., Vuori, I. and Oja, P. (1996). Is long term maintenance to health related physical activity possible? An analysis of concepts and evidence. Health Education Research 4, 463-477

3. Martilla, J., Laitakari, J., Nupponen, R., Miilunpalo, S. and Paronen, O. (1998). The versatile nature of physical activity on the psychological, behavioural and contextual characteristics of health related physical activity. Patient Education and Counselling 33, S29-S38

4. Murray, R. (2003). Forest School evaluation project: a study in Wales. Report to the Forestry Commission

5. O’Brien, E. (2004). A sort of magical place: people’s experiences of woodlands in northwest and southeast England. Forest Research, Farnham.

6. Pretty, J., Griffin, M., Peacock, J., Hine, R., Sellens, M and South ,N (2005). A countryside of health and wellbeing: the physical and mental health benefits of green exercise. Report for the Countryside Recreation Network

7. Halliwell, E., (2005) Up and Running. Exercise therapy and the treatment of mild or moderate depression. Mental Health Foundation. ISBN: 1 903645670

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Coed Lleol is hosted by the Small Woods Association in partnership with the Forestry Commission Wales and the Countryside Council for Wales