Landscapes and Wellbeing: Reflections on Two Decades of Research and Practice in Europe

Corresponding author's name: Simon Bell

Specific affiliation: The University of Edinburgh

E-mail address: s.bell@ed.ac.uk

Abstract

Since 2000, research into the links between landscape and human health and wellbeing has accelerated, shaped by dedicated centres such as OPENspace at the University of Edinburgh, collaborative European research projects, COST Actions, and new educational initiatives. This paper reflects on the milestones in this field from the perspective of my direct involvement, charting how the agenda evolved through major initiatives such as COST Actions E12 (Urban Forests and Trees), E33 (Forest Recreation and Nature Tourism), E39 (Trees, Forests and Human Health and Wellbeing), TU1201 (Urban Allotment Gardens in Europe), FP1204 (GreenInUrbs), and IS1204 (ToBeWell), European research framework projects including BlueHealth, and landmark syntheses such as The Oxford Textbook on Nature and Health. Alongside these initiatives, publications such as the influential 2007 Urban Forestry and Urban Greening paper on mapping UK research priorities, and a range of books authored or edited by colleagues and me, helped consolidate the field. Presented as a timeline, this review highlights how a disparate collection of projects gradually coalesced into an established evidence base linking green and blue spaces with human health, wellbeing, and policy action. In addition to reviewing outputs, I reflect on lessons learned and offer a personal perspective on the trajectory of landscape and wellbeing research over the past two decades.

Keywords：Landscape, wellbeing, health, COST Actions, BlueHealth, OPENspace, green and blue space, urban forestry, opinion piece, European research