Sint-Truiden (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): The “Nature within walking distance” project, funded with €1.05 million by the King Baudouin Foundation and AB, aims to improve health by connecting people with nature. Aster Hospital supports this effort.
The “Nature within walking distance” project is a new effort by the Agency for Nature and Forests and the King Baudouin Foundation. It aims to connect nature restoration with improving people’s well-being. The project focuses on creating caring spaces in green areas, understanding that nature can help with mental and physical health. By making nature easier to access, especially for vulnerable groups like the elderly or people with disabilities, the initiative hopes to create peaceful environments that benefit both the environment and health care.
What are the benefits of nature recovery projects for health and biodiversity?
It has been said that the pilot program also encourages teamwork between healthcare organizations, environmental groups, and local governments to create green spaces that focus on care and healing. By working together, the project aims to combine environmental restoration with improving people’s quality of life, setting an example for expanding to other areas in the future. By connecting people with nature, the initiative addresses environmental issues and the increasing mental health needs of today’s society.
Five healthcare institutions in the country will collaborate with nature organizations over the next three years to enhance biodiversity in natural spaces. During this period, they will also implement activities like meditation for patients in outdoor settings. The initiatives will receive funding of 900,000 euros from AB and 150,000 euros from the King Baudouin Foundation. According to ANB, spending time in nature benefits physical, mental, and social health by reducing allergies, high blood pressure, and stress while increasing social connections. However, with biodiversity declining, efforts to restore natural environments are essential.
The psychiatric hospital Aster in Sint-Truiden is excited about the project. They already have a lot of green spaces, like flower strips and trees, but they want to make nature even better. A Berden from Aster says they want both patients and staff to spend more time outside and enjoy the beautiful green campus instead of staying indoors. They believe that nature and care go together. The University of Antwerp, HOGENT, and UGent will oversee the projects, helping the healthcare institutions create a diverse garden that supports mental health.
