Escape the daily stresses at country parks
The stresses and strains of daily life can be countered by a visit to a country park according to a new university study.
Warwickshire County Council’s Country Parks Team say it comes to no surprise to them to hear that a study from the University of Essex has found that in a study of patients 71 per cent reported feeling less depressed following a visit to a country park.
This comes hot on the heels of a recent Mori poll where 94 per cent of people said they would be happy for their GP to prescribe outdoor exercise instead of prescription drugs.
In Liverpool hospitals, neurological patients are being given doses of bird song to aid their recovery. And in a study comparing the outcome of patients in a typical surgical wards in a hospital in Pennsylvania, researchers found that those in the ward that looked out over trees and rolling fields recovered twice as quickly – and required half as many painkillers as those who looked out on a brick wall.
Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio for the Environment, said: “The benefits of getting out an enjoying a breath of fresh air are immense. And we are lucky in Warwickshire to have such rich and varied country parks around the county offering a great value day out for the family, ranging from the views and splendour of Burton Dassett in the south of the county, to the glorious expanse of Kingsbury Water Park in the north.”
To find out more about country parks in Warwickshire and the range of events and attractions on offer call 01827 872660 or visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/parks