The Hub May 2016 | Page 25

I like trees. (A quote from my Grade One daily journal). I also like parks. And forests. Mostly, I just like being outside. Turns out, there’s a good reason for my love of the outdoors. Green spaces (parks, trees, walking or biking trails, etc.) are scientifically proven to reduce stress, improve mental health and happiness, increase economic development, and more. There is just so much good about green. Just recently, a study focused on the Greater Toronto Area proved that having 10 more trees on a neighbourhood block is equivalent to the mental wellbeing of making $10,000 more a year or feeling seven years younger. There’s a decent amount of research-speak in the study, published in Scientific Reports and called “Neighbourhood greenspace and health in a large urban centre.” Ess