On 5th April 2022, CHAD and the Faculty of Public Health hosted the fifth in a series of webinars relating to COVID-19, health impacts and inequalities: How use of natural environments changed during COVID-19.
Our two presenters shared different but complementary research that explored engagement with natural environments during COVID-19 and associated lockdowns. Hannah Burnett from Glasgow University presented epidemiological evidence, which highlighted individual-level factors associated with how much people engaged with natural environments. Critically, the data suggested that socio-economic differences in natural environment visits widened during 2020; a worrying trend given the evidence that green space can be disproportionately beneficial for health in those lower down the social strata. Patricia Darcy from CHAD, Staffordshire University, presented her qualitative evidence that highlighted how people with existing health conditions often found therapeutic benefits in natural environments, when societal restrictions prevented usual daily activities. This was followed by an engaging Q&A session from an interested audience.
A recording of the webinar is available below along with the slides from the presentations.
- Exploring green space visits, experiences and barriers to visiting during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hannah Burnett, University of Glasgow
- The role of nature engagement in supporting health and well-being during COVID-19, Patricia Darcy, Staffordshire University
