Active England evaluation reports
The Active England programme aimed to increase community participation in sport and physical activity across England. Forest Research contributed to the monitoring and evaluation of five projects that focused on increasing activity levels in woodlands and greenspace.
There is a report for each individual project, a short summary report that brings together the key findings from each project and a full report that provides an overview and analysis of the research across the five Active England projects:
- Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest (PDF-1591K)
- Great Western Community Forest (PDF-1412K)
- Greenwood Community Forest (PDF-1774K)
- Haldon Forest Park (PDF-2004K)
- Rosliston Forestry Centre (PDF-1003K)
- Summary report (PDF-414K)
- Full report (PDF-2132K)
By Liz O’Brien and Jake Morris.
Cultural value of trees, woods and forests (PDF-1556K)
Final report from study that explored how cultural values are identified, explored and taken into account in forest planning and decision-making processes.
Also: Executive summary (PDF-438K)
By Paul Tabbush.
The Forestry Commission Public Forest Estate in England: Social use, value and expectations (PDF-2654K)
Final report from study to provide evidence of the public value of the Forestry Commission Public Forest Estate in England and establish whether people have different perceptions and expectations of publicly owned forests compared to those in other forms of ownership.
By Claudia Carter, Anna Lawrence, Rebecca Lovell and Liz O’Brien.
The Forestry Commission Public Forest Estate in England: Social use, value and expectations (PDF-206K)
Summary report of study to provide evidence of the public value of the Forestry Commission Public Forest Estate in England and establish whether people have different perceptions and expectations of publicly owned forests compared to those in other forms of ownership.
By Anna Lawrence and Claudia Carter.
Health and Well-being (PDF-6483K)
Trees, Woodlands and Natural Spaces
This publication provides a synopses of presentations and workshop discussions from three expert consultations held on "Health and Well-being: Trees, Woodlands and Natural Spaces" in Scotland, England and Wales in 2002.
The Importance of Trees and Woods for People's Health and Well-being (PDF-738K)
Outlines of publications and project reports.
A Marvellous Opportunity for Children to Learn (PDF-1527K)
A participatory evaluation of Forest School in England and Wales
By Liz O’Brien and Richard Murray.
New pathways for health and well-being (PDF-262K)
Summary of research to understand and overcome barriers to accessing woodland
By Sue Weldon and Cathy Bailey in collaboration with Liz O’Brien.
New pathways for health and well-being in Scotland (PDF-1876K)
Research to understand and overcome barriers to accessing woodlands
By Sue Weldon and Cathy Bailey in collaboration with Liz O’Brien.
Offenders and Nature - Helping People, Helping Nature (PDF-1228K)
Summary Report on 'Offenders and Nature' Schemes. These involve those serving a sentence in custody or in the community working as volunteers on nature conservation and woodland sites.
By Claudia Carter, with contributions from Judith Hanna (Natural England).
Offenders and Nature - Policy into Practice (PDF-302K)
Employment for ex-offenders: an innovative approach
By Claudia Carter.
Review of research evidence in relation to the role of trees and woods in formal education and learning (PDF-512K)
Final report from study to identify and explore research relating to education and learning outdoors. A particular focus of the review was on learning that takes place in woods as well as learning that focuses on trees and woods.
By Rebecca Lovell and Liz O’Brien and Roz Owen.
Social benefits from the Forestry Commission Public Forest Estate in England: review of current evidence (PDF-933K)
A review of the Forestry Commission's estate in England as part of a study to show how the estate contributes to society today and how it might sustainably serve society's long-term needs.
By Anna Lawrence, Claudia Carter, Liz O’Brien and Rebecca Lovell.
"Strengthening Heart and Mind”: Using Woodlands to Improve Mental and Physical Well-being
In the United Kingdom, a number of efforts to improve people’s health and well-being focus on the value of trees and woodlands
By Liz O'Brien.
Article from Unasylva - Forests and human health. Issue 224 (Volume 57, 2006/2), a publication of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
Trees and Woodlands (PDF-2825K)
Nature's health service
This publication provides information and evidence supporting the idea that the use and enjoyment of woodlands and green spaces improves people’s overall health and well-being.
By Liz O'Brien.
Forward by Sir Liam Donaldson - Chief Medical Officer for England.
Trees and Woodlands - Nature's health service - Executive summary
Urban health and health inequalities and the role of urban forestry in Britain: A review (PDF-2172K)
This literature review (2010) explores urban health issues and health inequalities and identifies the links between trees, woods and forests and health in urban populations. It outlines current gaps in research and identifies potential opportunities for the Forestry Commission in England, Scotland and Wales to focus on health and well-being in urban areas.
By Liz O’Brien, Kathryn Williams (University of Melbourne) and Amy Stewart.
