The second webinar focused on the benefits of urban trees and the links between biodiverse tree populations and our mental health.
Liz O’Brien (Head of Social and Economic Research Group, Forest Research)
Why is evidencing the health and wellbeing benefits of trees, woods and forests important for the future of treescapes management?
Liz is head of a dynamic Social and Economic Research Group that focuses on understanding the complex relationships between forestry, the environment and society.
She is currently leading a four year programme on ‘Valuing and governing forest ecosystem services,’ which is interdisciplinary. Liz was involved in the United Kingdom National Ecosystem Assessment Follow-on project on the ‘shared, plural and cultural values of ecosystems’. She has recently been a work package leader on an EU Cost Action on the social and environmental benefits of green infrastructure, leading a team focused on socio-cultural benefits.
Jo Barton (School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex)
Identifying key links between perceived biodiversity and mental health
Jo’s research focuses on ‘Green Exercise’ (physical activities in greenspaces) – Physical, psychological and biochemical effects of exercising in different environments, during and recovery from exercise. As well as the use of nature-based interventions to facilitate physical activity, enhance physical and mental health and encourage behaviour change; connections to nature across the whole life course pathway.
