Published in People and Nature, a recent study conducted at Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Wisley indicates that the well-being and restorative effects of spending time in natural environments are significantly enhanced when individuals actively engage with nature and their emotions.
Spending time in natural environments is known to be associated with enhanced well‐being, including reduced stress and improved cognitive restoration. The new study, conducted by Bethany Harries, Dr Lauriane Chalmin-Pui, Professor Birgitta Gatersleben, Professor Alistair Griffiths, and Dr Eleanor Ratcliffe investigates whether the benefits of spending time in nature could be amplified by providing simple, attentive prompts towards specific features (natural versus human‐made) within the environment.
The result indicate, that participants who were encouraged to notice natural features, such a sounds and scents, reported higher wellbeing, positive affect and restoration, compared to those prompted to notice human-made elements (buildings, pathways, human made sounds) or given no prompts at all. According to the researchers, the findings highlight that even small, intentional shifts in attention can make time in green spaces even more restorative.
The research involved 79 participants, randomly allocated to one of three conditions: Restorative prompting; Human‐made prompting; or control. In the Restorative prompting group, participants were asked to notice natural features within the environment (natural sounds, smells, views, plants and biodiversity). In the human‐made prompting group, participants were asked to notice built elements in the environment (buildings, pathways, and human‐made sounds). Participants in the control group received no instructions.
Measures of state well‐being (Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale), positive affect (Discrete Emotions Questionnaire) and perceived restoration (Restoration Outcome Scale) were taken before and after participants spent 20 minutes in the garden completing attentional prompting activities. Participants in the restorative prompting group reported significantly higher state well‐being, positive affect and restoration compared to those in the human‐made prompting group and the no prompting controls.
According to the researchers, the study holds significant practical implications for the design and management of natural spaces, both public and private, such as parks and gardens that attract visitors seeking leisure and relaxation. The study offers valuable insights into how individuals can maximise the benefits of visits to these spaces, to support and enhance well-being. The research emphasises the potential of interventions such as interpretive signage, digital trails, or guided experiences to foster more profound engagement with nature.
