5 surprising benefits parks can have on your wellbeing

Vitamin D reduces fatigue and helps you to feel more alert and refreshed.

During the autumn and winter months it is even more important to spend time outside during daylight hours to improve your concentration levels and productivity.

Studies show that spending as little as 20 minutes in the park is enough to boost your health and improve your life satisfaction. Read more.

Simply taking a walk outside can do wonders for your sense of wellbeing, as well as your general physical fitness. Exercise can help to reduce stress, lower levels of cortisol and increase mood enhancing serotonin.

Harvard Medical School says: “One natural way to increase serotonin is by working out. When you pedal your bicycle or lift weights, your body releases more tryptophan, the amino acid your brain uses to make serotonin. This boost in serotonin (along with other endorphins and other neurotransmitters) is why many people get that feeling of euphoria known as a "runner's high" after an intense workout. 

Exposure to either the sun or to the bright light meant to replicate it is another way to naturally increase serotonin levels. Light therapy is one of the main treatments for seasonal affective disorder (SAD), the winter blues that may be triggered by a drop in serotonin levels.”

Read more on Harvard Medical School.

There is further research at University of Essex on the benefits of ‘Green exercise’, where they coined the phrase in 2003.

"It is a concept which has also captured the interest of people around the globe as a solution to improve mental wellbeing for all ages.”

Read more about the benefits of green exercise on Healthline.com.

Lastly, did you know that exercise can also reduce your risk of certain diseases, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, by up to 30%?  Read more on the NHS Live Well.

A trip to your local park or green space provides you with quality time to disconnect from devices and technology and the stresses of life. This can enable reflection and help you think more clearly.

Get mindful. Stop and sit. Reconnect with all your senses. Listen to birdsong. Feel your feet in the grass or sand. Release your worries, breathe the fresh air deeply and simply be.

Stopping to appreciate the wildlife, like your local park’s flora and fauna, can help you form meaningful connections with the natural world which improves your emotional wellbeing.

“… spending time in nature has been linked to better mental health and a decreased risk of psychiatric disorders among adults and children.

“[Time spent outdoors] provides a combination of stimulation of different senses and a break from typical overstimulation from urban environments,” “Exposure to green space results in mental restoration and increased positive emotions and decreased anxiety and rumination. Improved mindfulness can result from exposure to green space as well.”

Read more on Harvard School of Public Health website.

The Essex Country Parks have small teams of local volunteers who meet regularly to chat, spend time outside, and help to complete jobs with the rangers.

Volunteering boosts wellbeing by reducing stress and combating feelings of loneliness through social connection, which can trigger "feel-good" hormones. It also increases self-esteem and offers new skills, a sense of purpose, and opportunities to learn about the world from different perspectives. It can even help young people to gain work experience.

A survey in 2019 reported: Over three-quarters of volunteers (77%) reported that volunteering improved their mental health and wellbeing. This benefit was more widespread than physical health benefits (53%).

Read more.

Outdoor play is vital for children's wellbeing, providing physical health benefits like improved fitness and stronger immune systems, and mental health advantages including reduced stress, better mood, and increased resilience.

Playgrounds can increase children’s imaginative play, improve communication skills,  strengthen muscles and co-ordination as well as burn off excess energy.

“The amount of time children are spending outdoors is decreasing, the amount of research showing that outdoor play is hugely important for children's development has grown. Dozens of studies have now found that spending time outdoors, especially in free play, benefits children's physical health, social skills, and even their concentration and school readiness.”

It may even help improve ADHD symptoms. A larger study of preschoolers in Norway found that the more time outdoors they spent each day, the less likely they were to show ADHD symptoms.”

UNICEF May 2025

Read more.