Published on 10 July 2024
Jo Garret – University of Exeter
Lewis Elliot – University of Exeter
Rebecca Lovell – University of Exeter
Kevin J. Gaston – University of Exeter
Ben Phillips – University of Exeter
Fraenze Kibowski – Natural England
Tom Marshall – Natural England
It is now broadly recognised that living near or spending time in green and blue spaces is associated with people’s better mental health and well-being. This research aims to explore how the perceived quality of these spaces, including different habitat types, contributes to health and well-being. The work focuses on two research questions:
We are using the People and Nature Survey, or PaNS for short. This survey, run by Natural England, gathers information from about 25,000 people across England each year. Participants are chosen to represent the population of England as a whole, including across different demographics like gender, age, and region. The survey started in 2020 and follows on from the Monitor for Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE) survey. PaNS aims to understand how people perceive the quality and accessibility of the natural environment, how people engage with the natural environment, and how people benefit from the natural environment. Natural England is particularly interested in how this changes over time, and how these things differ across different population groups.
To help us explore the importance of different habitat types, Natural England linked the PaNS responses with data about habitats around where people live from the Living England habitat map. Using statistical modelling, we are first exploring the relationships between the characteristics of the areas where people live—such as the region, level of deprivation, and types of habitats—and their perceptions of nearby green and natural spaces. Following this, we are then examining how these perceptions of green and natural space quality relate to how often people visit these spaces and their well-being. This helps us understand if there are inequalities in the quality and biodiversity of nearby nature and the importance of these perceptions for visiting nature and well-being.
The pilot study will assess which questions and weightings are most appropriate, and whether such an index works across different groups. Selected questions from other nature relatedness scores and other nature interaction questions will also be asked for comparison, to help test the index.
Once the questionnaire is finalised, we will commission a nationally representative (based on age, sex and ethnicity) UK adult population to complete the survey and analyse the responses to test the feasibility of creating a Personalised Ecology Index.
Our next steps involve preparing our results for publication in an academic journal and updating this page with our findings as soon as they are ready. This work contributes to the first objective within our theme and will help us to understand the factors that influence the significance of current landscapes for individuals.
Photographer - Arthur Franklin
