Open Green Spaces with Lancaster University

The Sapling Lab in Lancaster Environment Centre focuses on research that explores how society, the atmosphere and plants interact. We study a wide range of topics, from the volatile (smelly) compounds that plants release into the atmosphere, to the effect that climate change and air pollution have on vegetation, to the ways in which we as a society use and modify our environment. We are currently collating a map showing all of the green and open spaces across Lancaster and Morecambe to find out where people most like to spend time to improve their mood, lower their stress and find their zen!

Green Close Studio use the arts to enable positive health and wellbeing, transform understanding of environmental and social issues and build stronger communities. We believe in the transformational power of art to change lives and use creative processes to help people explore their personal identity, culture and heritage. We specialise in creating platforms of equality drawing together individuals, communities and organisations.

Discovering the Health Benefits of Open Space…

Ever heard of Vitamin-O? O stands for Open space! Research suggests that spending time regularly in open space can improve health and well-being.

Recent reports seem to show that the impacts of COVID lockdown on mental health depended on whether people were able to continue visiting open spaces.

BUT so far no-one understands precisely what aspect of the space brings that boost.

We are a group of researchers at Lancaster University who would like to discover more about how open spaces are used in Lancaster-Morecambe and how they benefit different people.

We would like to ask for your help!

We invite you to tag your favourite green or open space and tell us a little about why, when and how you use it - in as creative a way as possible. We’d love to see drawings, poems, interpretative dances or yoga poses that sum up what your space means to you

We hope that by sharing your “go-to” open space in Lancaster-Morecambe with us and letting us know why you love it, you will help us work out what, how and why different types and uses of open spaces appeal to different people.

By telling us about your favourite open space, what you use it for, how often and what you like about, you will help us build a picture of how open spaces are used in the local area and what is most valuable about them. Ultimately, we hope to gather enough information to identify the elusive “multi-vitamin O” that provides such a boost to our health - and help communities across The Bay re-create that perfect space in your neighbourhood.