Summary
Well-being is a broad term that includes physical, social and psychological dimensions. It is a contested concept and there is a need to draw together current ideas and link them to the natural environment to explore how nature contributes to people’s well-being.
The following short document draws together debates on well-being, forestry and ecosystem services to stimulate discussion and help focus the well-being research agenda:
Well-being, forestry and ecosystem services: A discussion paper (PDF-538K)
Key research areas in this programme focus on education and learning, health and well-being, volunteering, and culture and identity in relation to trees, woods and forests and how these are distributed across a diverse society.
Description and summary of research included in this theme
Individual research projects
- Accessibility of woodlands and natural spaces
- Active England evaluation
- Addressing barriers to accessing woodlands
- Assessing and communicating animal disease risks for countryside users
- Benefits of using woodland and natural space for health
- Chopwell Wood health project evaluation
- Cultural value of trees, woods and forests
- Environmental volunteering: motivations and barriers
- Exploring disabled people's perceptions and use of forest recreation facilities
- Forest School in England and Wales and its impact on young children
- Forests for recreation and nature tourism: European Cost Action E33 (FORREC)
- Forests, trees and human health and well-being: European Cost Action E39
- Monitoring and evaluating quality of life for Forestry Commission England
- Outdoors and Health Network
- Public access, recreation and tourism
- Public Forest Estate: social study
- Review of research evidence in relation to the role of trees and woods in formal education and learning
- Social and cultural values of woodlands in northwest and southeast England
- Social and cultural values of woodlands in Vermont, USA
- Urban health and health inequalities and the role of urban forestry
- Using nature in offender rehabilitation
- Wood you believe it? Children and young people’s perceptions of climate change
- Woodland and health pilot project (West Midlands)
- Wye Wood evaluation
Contact
For further information please contact:
Liz O'Brien
Forest Research
Alice Holt Lodge
Farnham
Surrey
GU10 4LH
Tel: 01420 526155
Fax: 01420 520558
Email: liz.obrien@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
