Does Green Space Directly Influence Childhood Development?

Researchers and environmental epidemiologists at Belgium’s Hasselt University certainly think it’s the case. An analysis of 620 children aged seven to 15 found that they had a higher IQ of 2.6 points and scored 2 points lower for difficult behaviour if they lived in areas with increased green space.

The study also looked at the distribution of total IQ scores in children in ‘high green’ against ‘low green’ areas. Those in low green areas are more likely to have a total IQ of 80 or lower.

Although nearly 12 per cent of children in a high green area had IQ scores in the superior range of 125 or more, only 4.2 per cent of those in low-green areas scored in this range.

The researchers said their findings indicate that residential green space may be beneficial for the intellectual and the behavioural development of children living in urban areas.

Previous studies have already shown that urban green is important for cognitive development in children by improving working memory, attention, and school performance. A study of children in Barcelona had showed that school and total surrounding green space were associated with enhanced progress in working memory and superior working memory and a greater reduction in inattentiveness.

Similarly, research conducted in 2019 by Newcastle University, the University of Warwick and the University of Sheffield, uses new geospatial research techniques to create an accurate measure of the relationship between three difference aspects of mental wellbeing and green space. It found that living within 300m of urban green space is associated with a greater sense of worth, life satisfaction and happiness. This has been amplified by the social distancing measures implemented to contain the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), where time outdoors has been limited. For many, getting an adequate amount of quality time outdoors has not been possible.

These findings are relevant for policymakers and urban planners to create an optimal environment for children to develop their full potential, as well as ensuring enhanced mental wellbeing for the entire local population through utilising green space.

grass on a beautiful day

How can Ethical Partnership help?

At Ethical Partnership, our business is focused around our values. In everything that we do, we seek to protect and conserve the natural environment and finite resources of the planet and reflect this in the way we advise our clients, design schemes and select our partners.  

We offer a comprehensive range of ecology and landscape services to both public and private sector clients to enable them to design developments and other schemes that are sensitive to the needs of wildlife, landscape and habitats. We help our clients protect and conserve local and global environmental resources, have been successful in securing standard and bespoke environmental permits and have an excellent working relationship with the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency

With such as vast range of experience, no planning consultancy is better suited to tackle environmental issues as we are. Contact us so we can work out how to best help you achieve your planning goals, protect the environment for future generations, and ensure that more people have access to life-changing green spaces.

You can also contact us using this form for any further questions or enquiries about our work:

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