Green exercise and nature therapy have been hitting the news lately. Increasingly you’ll see them referred to in public health policy in the UK.
The healing power of nature isn’t new - the ancient Greeks had over 400 temples for outdoor healing. But, in our increasingly busy, urbanised lives do we really understand the value of nature? How can we show that nature is a good and effective therapy for all sorts of people in all kinds of contexts? Can it and will it replace some uses of pharmaceutical drugs?
In the latest episode of the Louder Than Words Podcast, Jules Pretty and Martha Dixon will explore how University of Essex academics are providing the evidence to help in the better use of what we might call the natural health service. They will also speak to people putting these insights into action and transforming lives.
They will be joined by:
Nick Cooper from the Department of Psychology discussing how research on outdoor activities such as angling has led to a European-wide initiative to support mental health.
Jo Barton from the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences at Essex talking about how Government policy on nature therapy can help young people from an early age and prevent problems in the future.
Jo Roberts from the Wilderness Foundation explaining how the charity takes troubled youngsters and takes them out into nature.
Matt King, from independent health and wellbeing charity Trust Links, describing how Trust Links uses gardening and the outdoors to support people in their journey to recovery and wellbeing.
What is the impact of our perception of our own body? How does it impact our wellbeing? How does our understanding of our body differ across cultures and change over time? Psychology researcher Dr Helge Gilmeister and art historian Dr Matt Lodder join Professor Jules Pretty. ...
Professor Jules Pretty investigates the double crisis facing our seas - the climate crisis and the threat to biodiversity. He speaks to Dr Michelle Taylor and Dr Natalie Hicks from the School of Life Sciences at Essex and Essex graduate Simon Walmsley, Head of the WWF-UK Marine Programme. He also chats with writer and BBC presenter Tom Heap about his new book 39 Ways to Save the Planet and how we can all take action. ...
The time for action is now. In our very first episode Professor Jules Pretty and journalist Martha Dixon, talk to some of the world’s leading climate experts about their work to fight climate change and to those who use this research to influence policy and engage the public. Andri Snaer Magnason (1:35) is a writer and poet and climate change is his passion. He uses his writing to get climate change on the agenda and storytelling to make sense out of complex climate data. Dr Michelle Taylor (6:12) and Professor Graham Underwood (8:33) from the University of Essex discuss how their research contributes to policies that aim to reduce climate change. At an international policy level Tanya Steele (11:27), CEO of the UK’s World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF), emphasises the importance of science in making decisions and generating new ideas. Environmentalist and company director Simon Lyster (15:12) brings another dimension – the role that business plays in the drive towards a healthy natural environment. Finally we talk to young activist Hattie (20:54) who as a WWF Youth Ambassador is passionate about the natural environment and preserving it for future generations. Full show notes including transcription available at: https://www.essex.ac.uk/blog/posts/2021/04/28/the-louder-than-words-podcast-climate-change Feedback welcome at: [email protected] ...
