Green Spaces of Greater and Clyde Introduction This resource has been created by the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Mental Health Improvement and Equalities team. It is intended to signpost to local green spaces across Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and provide tips and resources on boosting wellbeing by being out in nature.

Nature and mental health Nature can be found all around us, from local parks and gardens, to lochs, forests and oceans. Aspects of modern life, however, mean that people are having less contact with nature. This is often due to increased time spent indoors on screens, and decreased outdoor recreation activities. It's also because the environments around us, like our schools or workplaces, don't tend to encourage contact with nature.

Research shows that having access to green spaces is linked to a reduced risk of mental health difficulties, improved mood and increased life-satisfaction. Being outside in nature has other benefits too, like improved concentration, reduced stress, increased physical activity and better overall health. Green Spaces across Greater Glasgow and Clyde Walking and cycling routes across Inverclyde: www.inverclyde.gov.uk/ tourism-and-visitor- attractions/things-to-see- and-do/walking

Renfrewshire For parks and gardens across , visit: www.renfrewshire.gov.u k/parksandgardens

East Renfrewshire For walking and cycling routes across , visit: www.eastrenfrewshire.gov .uk/walking-routes West For green spaces across , visit: www.west- dunbarton.gov.uk/leisure -parks-events/parks-and- greenspaces/

East Dunbartonshire For parks, gardens, and green spaces across , visit: www.eastdunbarton.gov. uk/visitors/parks- gardens-and-open-spaces

Glasgow City For green spaces across Glasgow City, visit: www.glasgow.gov.uk/parks 5 Ways to Wellbeing in Nature 5 ways to wellbeing Give Keep learning Learn gardening, including in nature Give back to the environment by recycling. how to plant or grow your Research from the New own vegetables. Plant seeds or flowers to Economics Foundation has help bees. Learn to paint, draw, or take shown there are five ways to photographs of nature look after your wellbeing: Try pet-sitting or dog around you. connect, give, take notice, walking for a friend or at a keep learning, be active. local animal shelter. Be active Here are some suggested Take notice Go for a walk in your local activities to do in nature Listen to natural sounds, like area, using the links to the around the 5 ways: through recordings or apps green spaces of Greater Connect that play the sounds of the Glasgow and Clyde in this Join a local walking group ocean or rain. resource. (Paths for All, Ramblers). Arrange a comfortable place Try moving your exercise Grow food with others - to sit, like in a park or by outdoors by going for a run, apply to share an allotment your window, and notice trying a cycling route, or or join community gardens your natural surroundings. going wild swimming. (Scottish Allotments and What can you see, taste, Gardens Society). hear, feel, smell? Additional resources

Community connections: NHS GGC, health walks: Greenspace 's www.nhsggc.org. toolkit for making better use uk/your-health/healthy- living/get-active/what-are- of greenspaces: my-options/health-walks/ "I've always found that www.greenspacescotland.org connecting with .uk/Pages/Category/better- nature supports my Workplaces: outside mental wellbeing. It Ramblers, local walking Paths for All, workplace doesn't matter groups: walking resources: whether it’s a woodland walk, www.ramblers.org.uk/ www.pathsforall.org.uk/ climbing a hill or just Paths for All, health walks: walking-for- sitting in the garden, www.pathsforall.org.uk/walki health/workplacewalking there’s always ng-for-health something you can do outside to relieve some of your stressors."

"Finding ways to build your connection to nature is the best form of therapy there is. Not only does it calm your mind, it can Schools: lower your blood Mental Health Education Scotland, a pressure and release Foundation, connect range of outdoor learning resources: soothing endorphins with nature pack, https://education.gov.scot and it's also easy and available to schools all /improvement/learning- usually free – a across the UK: resources/a-summary-of- powerful www.mentalhealth.org.u outdoor-learning- combination!" k/campaigns/mental- resources/ health-awareness- week/school-pack @AyeMind99