The Benefits of Green Spaces on Mental Health

Sometimes it only takes a few minutes outside to feel a shift. A short walk past trees, a bench in a local park, or a quiet moment in a garden can soften a day that feels too full.

At Hospice in the Weald, we’re always thinking about what helps people feel steadier – patients, families, carers, volunteers, and staff. Care is clinical, but it’s also human. And the places we spend time in matter. Green space cannot solve everything, but it can offer relief, perspective, and a sense of calm.

This article looks at the benefits of green spaces on mental health, why green spaces and mental health are closely linked, and what that can mean in everyday life.

In hospice care, stress can come from many directions: symptoms, appointments, uncertainty, anticipatory grief, and the constant practical load that sits alongside love. A gentle garden walk, a few minutes in fresh air, or even sitting where you can see greenery can help the nervous system settle.

As Nick Farthing, our Chief Executive, puts it:

“In the garden, people often talk a little more freely. You can see the shift – breathing slows, shoulders drop, and the conversation becomes lighter. Nature doesn’t take the hard stuff away, but it gives people a calmer place to hold it.”
– Nick Farthing, our Chief Executive – Hospice in the Weald

That calmer place can also make it easier to accept support – whether that’s a chat with a nurse, time with a counsellor, or simply being alongside family without having to fill every silence.

The impact of green spaces on mental health builds over time

Green space is not only about destinations. It’s also what’s near home: street trees, verges, community gardens, and safe routes where you can walk without feeling rushed. Many studies link greener neighbourhoods with better overall mental wellbeing (see the Health Foundation’s evidence hub on green space and health). The impact of green spaces on mental health may be gradual, but it can add up: less mental fatigue, more gentle movement, and more small pauses that stop the day from feeling relentless.

Access matters too – and it isn’t equal everywhere (the Health Foundation summarises the evidence on inequalities in access to green space). Not everyone has a welcoming green space close by, and some people cannot get out easily. That’s why “nature contact” can be as small as sitting by a window with a view of trees or sky.

Do green spaces improve mental health?

People often ask this directly: Do green spaces improve mental health? Nature is not a replacement for medical care, therapy, or specialist support. But for many people, spending time around greenery can ease anxiety and low mood and help difficult feelings feel more manageable (for example, see the evidence overview in the WHO review, and research exploring mechanisms like reduced rumination in Bratman et al. – 2015).

One reason is that nature gives your brain a different kind of attention. It’s varied and gentle, without demanding decisions or constant input. If you’ve been living with worry, grief, or exhaustion, that matters. It can reduce mental ‘load’ and help you feel more present (supported by experimental work on attention restoration, such as Berman et al. – 2008).

So when people ask, How does green space affect mental health? One answer is that it helps the mind take a break from effort. And that’s a big part of how green spaces improve mental health: they support calm, focus, and recovery from stress.

A view of nature can still help

You don’t always have to be outdoors to feel the benefit. Being able to see greenery – trees, plants, sky – can support wellbeing too (a classic example in healthcare research is Ulrich (1984), which explored positive outcomes linked to views of nature). This is especially relevant when someone is unwell, mobility is limited, or leaving the house feels like too much.

In practical terms, that might look like choosing a seat by a window, placing a plant where you’ll notice it, or taking two minutes to pause and watch the world outside.

What this looks like at Hospice in the Weald

We support adults and young people across Kent and East Sussex, providing specialist care and support free of charge. Alongside clinical care, we pay attention to the everyday experiences that help people feel cared for – warmth, familiarity, kindness, and spaces that feel calm rather than clinical.

Our hospice environment is evolving through our ‘Shaping our Future’ work, focused on improving areas like the in-patient ward and visitor spaces so they feel modern, welcoming, and uplifting. You can read more in our update on the first look at our ward plans.

This is not about telling anyone to “just get outside”. It’s about offering nature as a choice – something people can lean on when they want to.

Simple ways to bring in more green space

If life is intense right now, keep it small:

• Step outside for two minutes of fresh air.
• Sit near a window with trees or sky in view.
• Take the easiest short walk you can manage.
• Notice one detail – birds, wind in leaves, the smell after rain.
• Bring nature closer with a plant, flowers, or a photo of a favourite outdoor place.

These aren’t rules. They’re just options for a little breathing space.

When you need more than nature can give

The benefits of green spaces on mental health are real, but they’re only one part of support. If anxiety, low mood, or stress are affecting your daily life, you deserve more than coping alone.

If you or someone you love could benefit from hospice support, you can find out more about how we can help on our access our care page. There is no need to wait for a referral – you can reach out, ask questions, and talk things through.

And if you’re part of our wider community, your support helps make these calm, restorative spaces possible. Donations, fundraising, and volunteering all help us continue providing care, comfort, and time for those who need it most.

Sometimes wellbeing starts with something simple: a steadier breath, a quieter mind, and a place that feels a little more like peace.