ISLE OF WIGHT — Researchers from the University of Southampton will survey visitors at five parks, forests and beaches on the Isle of Wight in April to study the potential health and wellbeing benefits of the island's green and blue spaces. The team will work with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to conduct the surveys at Wilder Nunwell, Bembridge Beach, Puckpool Park, Appley Park and Sandown Beach.

The research team aims to find out how people use the spaces and what aspects make them feel better. It also wants to identify what stops people from accessing these spaces more often and which groups are most affected.

"We have a general understanding that time spent in these outdoor spaces is good for us, but we don't know exactly what components of nature are beneficial," co-lead researcher Dr Rebecca Collins said. "For example, we don't know how big a role wildlife features like bird song or scenery play compared to more recreational activities like sea swimming or opportunities to socialise."

Co-lead researcher Dr Sien Van Der Plank said: "We're hearing about concerns that young adults on the Isle of Wight have limited access and time to spend time in nature – time that's thought to be beneficial for mental and physical health."

"Working with local artists, we want to invite young adults to be creative and share their experiences of visiting their local parks, coasts and other outdoor spaces," Van Der Plank added. Researchers will work with the Common Space, Artecology and Swim the Wight to set up a creative workshop for people aged between 18 and 35 years old.

Deborah Whitfield, senior nature-based solutions manager at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: "We're delighted that one of our rewilding sites on the Isle of Wight, Wilder Nunwell, is part of this research. By surveying visitors across five green and blue spaces, we'll better understand how people use and value these landscapes, helping to guide future nature recovery. Ultimately, we hope to show that restoring nature can improve not just biodiversity, but people's wellbeing too – creating a genuine win-win for wildlife and local communities."

In the United Kingdom, green spaces are defined as land with vegetation, while blue spaces include rivers, lakes and the sea. The Isle of Wight was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2019.