Blue Spaces

It is widely known that living in or near greenspace is beneficial to both our mental and physical health. Research into time spent in blue spaces is also proving to be beneficial to our health. Blue spaces are outdoor environments, natural or man made that feature water in the form of sea, rivers or lakes.

The Environment Agency commissioned research into blue spaces, using the details of 77 studies the researchers found that around half the population of England uses blue spaces at least once a month. Although more intense physical activity was found to be taken in greenspace, more general exercise overall was taken in blue spaces. The most common exercise was walking close to water often with a dog. The data also showed that proximity to water provided more opportunity for restorative activities and experiences with individuals reporting feeling happier when close to blue spaces.

NOTE: For more information on the research see: The social benefits of Blue Spaces Gov.UK