Health and Wellbeing |
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Brighton and Hove experiences high levels of mental illness, costly to people’s lives, our community and to our healthcare services. This has been exacerbated by isolation, fear and anxiety during the pandemic with outdoor group activities halted under lockdown and the wellbeing of health care workers being of particular concern. Nearby, freely explorable, nature-rich landscapes are recognised by Natural England as essential to human wellbeing. WIth mental health groups advocating a move from illness and treatment to a holistic approach promoting wellbeing and resilience, there is a synergy between health, greenspace, ecology, and opportunities for people to feel that they are contributing. A swathe of projects are a testament to this approach: The Green Open Space for Health project, for example, was focused on “helping… people make better use of the green space in their neighbourhood and nearby it.” Other projects include green social proscribing, Green Walking in mental health recovery, the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare and the Green Wellbeing Alliance. Our downland estate should be an active and integral part of this. With open access across the Estate supported by sustainable transport and improved green walking routes from the city, the downland could become a huge, open, safe, recreational resource, a true breathing space on our doorstep. Involving people in our rich ecology and creating sustainable community farming projects will restore our connection to the natural world and each other, and give people a sense of place and custodianship over our landscape, while addressing health inequalities, improving health outcomes and delivering wider benefits to society. Our community’s long term health and wellbeing should be central to how we manage the land we own. |
