A landmark study of nearly 20,000 people across England reveals that spending at least 120 minutes weekly in nature—such as city parks, forests, beaches, or woodlands—significantly improves self-reported health and psychological well-being. Those clocking under two hours saw no such benefits compared to non-visitors.
The findings held steady whether the time was one long outing or several short ones, applying equally to men and women, young and old, across occupations, ethnicities, rich and poor areas, and even those with chronic illnesses or disabilities.
Lead researcher: "It's well established that nature benefits health and well-being, but we've lacked a clear dosage until now. Most visits happened within two miles of home, so local urban greenspaces count. Two hours weekly is realistic and flexible, spread across the week for maximum impact."
Co-author: "Nature time reduces stress, provides life perspective, and builds quality connections with loved ones—key drivers of better health."
