Green spaces are important to us because they let us soak up nature and its benefits. Sadly, fewer and fewer natural spots, especially in cities, offer those benefits. For example, the EU's urban forestry and greenery guidelines require a 3-30-300 principle. That means there should be at least three trees in sight from every home, 30% canopy cover in every neighborhood, and every person should live within 300 meters of a green space.
Unfortunately, only 13.5% of the EU's population lives in areas that meet the required criteria. In fact, 23% live in places where none of the three benchmarks are met. The "greenest" cities in that regard are Helsinki, Hamburg and Krakow, and Southern European cities have the lowest scores, including Athens, Palermo, and Cordoba.
Growing up in nature can do us a lot of good. Research shows that children who grow up in residential areas with many green spaces around have a lower risk of developing psychiatric disorders in adolescence and adulthood. In fact, those who grow up in cities where green spaces are lacking have a 55% higher chance of developing a psychiatric disorder.
By spending time in nature, kids sharpen their problem-solving skills while doing activities like climbing rocks and crossing streams. Naturally, kids also grow up to appreciate and love wildlife and ecosystems more; they see firsthand why protecting forests and other natural habitats matters. What's more, kids who grow up in nature are even more likely to recycle and become advocates for environmental causes.
So, what exactly does being in nature do to us? As a comprehensive 2018 study of previous research found, it directly helps our bodies in three ways: it decreases blood pressure, heart rate, and salivary cortisol. Those who spend a lot of time outdoors also tend to have a lower risk of diabetes and are less likely to pass away from all causes.
Sometimes, we need so little to make us feel better — a smile or a nice "Hello" from a stranger, a delicious muffin in the morning, or your favorite song on the way to work. Similarly, something as simple as a bird song can boost our mental health and well-being for up to eight hours.
Landscape architect Jo Gibbons explains that we experience birdsong with more than one sense, and perhaps that's why it has such a big impact on us. "A biodiverse environment is restorative in terms of mental wellbeing," she said. "The sensual stimulation of birdsong, part of those daily ‘doses’ of nature, is precious and time-lasting."
You'll notice a lot of insects and similar critters on this list. While "Naturfreunde" loves all nature's creatures, people generally tend to feel averse to insects and other so-called creepy crawlies. According to a 2016 survey, one in four people are afraid of bugs, and about 40% of phobias are related to insects and the likes of spiders, cockroaches, and worms. But if they're all Mother Nature's children, shouldn't we love them all?
