NATURE AND WELLBEING

J. Shaw

Public Health discourse on ecotherapy, ‘nature’ and wellbeing, and ‘nature’, health and the built environment have highlighted the importance of access to nature for both physical and mental health. Not only do herbicide treated verges contribute to our polluted planet and bodies, but they are also ugly, and living in an ugly environment does little for our mental health and wellbeing.

Access to biodiverse nature especially during childhood play has also been shown in recent research to impact on immunity and microbiota health. Commonly omitted from such research however is the impact of environmental pollutants themselves in the ‘natural environment’ as factors in the aetiology of these and other diseases. Recent research (reported on in the Guardian), demonstrates the negative impact that pesticides and other PFAS ‘forever’ chemicals have on gut microflora dysbiosis and related illness.