Spending two hours in nature per week was associated with better health and mental wellbeing across different occupational and ethnic groups, among those living in both rich and poor areas, and among people with long term illnesses or disabilities.

This was a large observational study that included 20,000 participants in England. Although the results cannot establish causation…they were clear. Spending 2 hours out in nature was associated with better health and mental wellbeing no matter what age, gender, race, occupational status or income, or even whether people had chronic illness or disability. Everyone from every background, rich or poor, that went out in nature 2 hours per week had better health.

This is in line with a recent randomized trial that found that 1.5 hours out in nature lowered the stress hormone cortisol by almost 10%.