Research Team  
Professor Mark Dooris, Professor Lynn Froggett, Dr Anna Kenyon & Dr Ursula Pool  

Background     

• Many coastal communities have a higher-than-average proportion of adults aged over 60, than non-coastal towns. Further, older adults may experience specific vulnerabilities such as loneliness, social isolation and mental health challenges. In addition, coastal communities face higher levels of deprivation than comparable non-coastal communities.
• Proximity and exposure to green and blue space (natural environmental features including trees, vegetation and water) is associated with better mental and physical health.
• Coastal communities are, by definition, close to blue space, and often green space as well. Therefore, it is possible that the natural environmental features in these locations could provide health and wellbeing benefits to the people who live there. We propose that these benefits might be particularly relevant to healthy ageing, and that maximizing their potential in coastal communities may be a way of reducing inequalities in healthy ageing.

Purpose 

This research project will investigate the interface between healthy ageing in coastal communities in Northern England and the wellbeing and sustainability co-benefits of green/blue space, considering their roles in enhancing the health of older adults, and supporting a safe, healthy and inclusive progression through the life-course.  

Possible Benefits 

By exploring both exposure to and experience of green and blue spaces in the context of healthy ageing, including barriers and obstacles to accessing these spaces, we hope to discover ways in which to make green and blue space more accessible to the people who may benefit most from it.

Related ICSC Themes