Massive in the green: University of Antwerp announces first results of Corona natural research – Radar
We long for peace in green. This is clear from a survey conducted by the University of Antwerp.
During the Easter holidays, the University of Antwerp investigated the extent to which people look at nature during the corona season and the impact it has on their overall health and well-being. More than eleven thousand people have completed the survey. Research confirms what we intuitively already knew: moving nature back is our virtue.
Several times a day
Almost all respondents say that they have recently evaded nature. A third do this once a day, and another third do so several times a day. This is much more than it used to be, and that is mainly because people now have more time. The researchers also saw their own garden as nature. Nearly 80% of respondents said they had. This is the place where the Belgians will satisfy their natural hunger. The second most popular place is the forest or a nature reserve.
Some people, who accounted for about five percent of the respondents, said they would not go into nature. You will find it particularly busy outside or are afraid of infection with the new coronavirus. In the other group there are many positive feelings about this contact with nature. Slightly more than half appreciate it much more than before the Corona crisis. Thirty percent discovered new elements or stimuli in nature and another thirty percent feel more connected to nature.
For health
The vast majority of Belgians say they are bringing back the nature that is important for health. This number and the extent to which we care about nature have both increased as a result of the coronary crisis. 85 to 90 percent of respondents said they felt fitter, more positive, more energetic, happier and more relaxed after contact with nature. Stress, anxiety and feelings of vulnerability disappear after the same number of people.
According to Jan De Haes, Deputy Department of Nature in the Province of Antwerp, the research provides an additional incentive for a policy that aims to make nature livable for all. “We also need to invest in new accessible forests and a varied landscape with floats, pools, wooden sides and orchards. So we take care of our native fauna and flora, but also our own. A third of the respondents even find it too busy in nature. This confirms our political decisions to create more livable landscapes, such as on the southern edge of Antwerp or in the Valley of the Little Nete.
During the Easter holidays, the University of Antwerp investigated the extent to which people look at nature during the corona season and the impact it has on their overall health and well-being. More than eleven thousand people have completed the survey. Research confirms what we intuitively already knew: moving nature back is our virtue. Almost all respondents say that they have recently evaded nature. A third do this once a day, and another third do so several times a day. This is much more than it used to be, and that is mainly because people now have more time. The researchers also saw their own garden as nature. Nearly 80% of respondents said they had. This is the place where the Belgians will satisfy their natural hunger. The second most popular place is the forest or a nature reserve. Some people, who accounted for about five percent of the respondents, said they would not go into nature. You will find it particularly busy outside or are afraid of infection with the new coronavirus. In the other group there are many positive feelings about this contact with nature. Slightly more than half appreciate it much more than before the Corona crisis. Thirty percent discovered new elements or stimuli in nature and another thirty percent feel more connected to nature. The vast majority of Belgians say they are bringing back the nature that is important for health. This number and the extent to which we care about nature have both increased as a result of the coronary crisis. 85 to 90 percent of respondents said they felt fitter, more positive, more energetic, happier and more relaxed after contact with nature. Stress, anxiety and feelings of vulnerability disappear after the same number of people. According to Jan De Haes, Deputy Department of Nature in the Province of Antwerp, the research provides an additional incentive for a policy that aims to make nature livable for all. “We also need to invest in new accessible forests and a varied landscape with floats, pools, wooden sides and orchards. So we take care of our native fauna and flora, but also our own. A third of the respondents even find it too busy in nature. This confirms our political decisions to create more livable landscapes, such as on the southern edge of Antwerp or in the Valley of the Little Nete.