Sjerp de Vries studied social psychology at the University of Groningen and has spent the past 20 years researching the impact of green spaces on health. ‘More attention has been paid to this in recent years, and it has now become the biggest part of my work too. People tend not to focus so much on what's in other people’s interests, and mostly have a short-term focus too. That’s why it’s important to research things that are not immediately obvious. This can lead to greater awareness and better policies, benefiting people who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, for example. I'm very interested in the idea of environmental justice.’
Children living in neighbourhoods with more green spaces are less likely to use ADHD medication, according to Wageningen research. This is particularly the case in more deprived neighbourhoods. Mental health also has a much weaker association with income levels in neighbourhoods with green spaces, compared to neighbourhoods that are less…