News

‘Your Place in the Park’ was a co-production event held on 3 December at Whittington Park Community Centre. A range of stakeholders came together to explore how North London's green spaces might be able to help improve the local community’s mental health. 

The aim of the event was to allow local stakeholders to meet one another and to begin to explore ways our Trust services could make more or better use of parks and other green spaces  in mental health interventions.

The event marks a significant step in the ongoing collaboration between North London NHS Foundation Trust, UCL and Health and Sustainability Consultant, Catherine Max.

The power of green spaces 
Research suggests that regular access to local green spaces can halve the risk of developing poor mental health. Parks and green spaces offer opportunities for:

• Mental relaxation
• Reflective Space
• Physical activity
• Social interaction 

Despite the fact that people of all backgrounds and circumstances stand to gain from using green spaces as highlighted in a recent study, white, able-bodied and affluent communities have disproportionate access to them.  ’Your Place in the Park’ took some of these challenges and issues as its starting point to explore how we in North London can harness the potential of our green spaces to benefit everyone’s mental health.

Following an informal meet-and-greet, Dr. Liza Griffin, Ruth Hynes, and Dr. Gemma Moore from UCL gave a presentation on the relationship between mental health and green spaces. They talked about the Healthy Parks Framework , resourcing and funding for mental health initiatives in our communities, and the day’s agenda. 

Innovative discussion and ideas 
Attendees engaged in thought-provoking discussions, including:

• Climate change’s impact on urban environments
• Personal safety in public spaces
• Human connectedness versus solitude in nature
• The historical significance of green spaces
• Upcycling vacant spaces with interactive features (e.g. QR code-guided tours)
• Accessibility and inclusivity in designing outdoor spaces

Future considerations 
The event and dialogue raised some important points to consider going forward:

• What are the personal reasons why people engage with public spaces?
• How local communities can feel safe using their neighbourhood’s green spaces
• Are we designing spaces for people’s requirements and desires, or are we designing the space first and then hoping people adjust what they want based on what the space offers?
• How to promote green spaces as part of mental health interventions and for wellbeing
• Gender, ethnicity, class, and background-related barriers to green space access

'Your Place in the Park' underscored the crucial role green spaces can play in improving and maintaining our mental wellbeing. Discussions emphasised the need for inclusive, accessible, and well-designed natural environments that cater to diverse communities. In summary, this event marks a significant step towards harnessing the potential of North London's green spaces in improving and protecting the mental wellbeing of its communities.

If you would like to find out more, please email jane.faulkner5@nhs.net