The connection between the places we design and the health of the people who use them has never been more important. Landscape architects are uniquely placed to address some of today’s biggest public health challenges from the rise in obesity to the pressures of an ageing population and the mental health crisis, by creating spaces that actively support wellbeing.
When responsibility for public health in England moved from the NHS to local authorities in 2013, it opened new opportunities to integrate health into planning and placemaking. The Landscape Institute asked the key question:
can landscape help create healthy places?
Today, both research and real-world case studies give a clear answer:
yes.
Evidence Past and Present
Over a century ago, naturalist W.H. Hudson described London’s green parks as “our best medicine.” In the past three decades, science has caught up:
- Professor Jules Pretty’s green exercise studies at the University of Essex confirm the importance of nature for both physical and mental health.
- A Dutch study found fewer health complaints among people living near green space.
- Research shows that hospital patients with views of greenery can recover more quickly from surgery.
At Davies White, we have seen this first-hand. Our work with NHS Trusts has transformed underused spaces into nature play gardens and wellbeing landscapes that calm, restore, and inspire. At
St George’s Hospital in London, part-funded by Take That, we created a garden for young patients that has reduced stress and anxiety levels, according to nursing staff. More recently, our
NHS Wellbeing Garden at University Hospital Southampton has provided a restorative outdoor space for patients, visitors, and staff — offering moments of peace and connection with nature within a busy hospital setting. Both demonstrate how thoughtful landscape design can directly contribute to recovery and resilience. Pictured above, Sarah Price’s beautifully designed Maggie’s Centre garden at UHS Southampton, a tranquil sanctuary for people living with cancer and their families. Its naturalistic planting, meandering paths, and secluded seating areas create a calm, restorative escape within the hospital grounds.
Designing for Mental Wellbeing
Mental health charity MIND promotes ecotherapy as a clinically valid treatment for mental distress. This thinking informed projects such as the secure gardens at Wandsworth Recovery Centre, giving adults with acute mental illness a safe, uplifting space for respite. Swedish researcher Patrick Grahn’s work reinforces this approach, showing that even a short 10-minute walk through a park can significantly reduce stress.
The Five Principles of Healthy Places
The Landscape Institute’s position statement identifies five principles that should guide design:
- Improve air, water, and soil quality while helping us adapt to climate change.
- Tackle health inequalities and promote healthy lifestyles.
- Encourage social interaction and reduce isolation and stress.
- Support learning and development through inclusive spaces.
- Restore and uplift physical and mental health.
A Healthy Landscape is an Economic Asset
Healthy landscapes bring measurable social and financial benefits. In Motherwell, The Greenlink; a 7km cycleway through some of Scotland’s most deprived neighbourhoods, delivers £7 in social return for every £1 invested. In Dudley, a £4.5m Healthy Community Challenge Fund investment turned five parks into family health hubs, supporting active lifestyles and reducing childhood obesity.
The Case for Action
Local authority budgets for public spaces remain under pressure, but the evidence is clear: a well-designed, well-managed landscape saves money for health and social care, strengthens communities, and improves quality of life.
Landscape is not a luxury; it’s an essential part of our public health system.
In many ways, as Hudson suggested, it remains
our best medicine.
