Exercise should be blue and green: seasonal variation in how woodland and freshwater interact to enhance participation in active leisure events

Abstract

Models of physical activity assume exercise is dictated by characteristics of individuals, their environment and synergies between the two. Active leisure events utilise public green spaces such as parks to promote outdoor exercise among the relatively inactive to improve their health and wellbeing. They are a cheap and effective mechanism of reducing burdens placed upon healthcare systems. Understanding what components of the environment promote green exercise could increase their effectiveness. Previous studies have shown that the amount of woodland and freshwater along the routes of the active leisure events are positively associated with the return rates of new participants. However, few studies of green exercise have considered the impact of season. This study builds upon previous models of parkrun return rates by incorporating season. Higher return rates after attending a highly wooded event do not occur in winter. This suggests that woodland is associated with higher return rates only when deciduous trees are in leaf and that leaves could play a crucial role in the rewards gained from green exercise. Freshwater has a positive effect in winter. From April until October freshwater interacts with woodland to nearly double the increase in return rate associated with woodland. Thus, routes with high proportions of both woodland and freshwater have the highest return rates, but only when deciduous trees are in leaf. One explanation for this finding could be water reflecting the foliage on trees and so enhancing the amount of green present in the environment. Thus, the benefits of exercising in blue-green spaces appear to be greater than exercising in green spaces alone. This study has important implications for urban planners designing locations that will encourage people to engage in active leisure with green and blue spaces placed in close proximity seemingly creating the ideal setting for promoting exercise.