Greenspace Scotland has published a report assessing the health impact of projects involving open spaces.

Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of greenspace - a guide aims to assist the formulation of greenspace policies, plans and programmes which consider the positive effects on health outlined in previous Greenspace Scotland research. The HIA guide was developed in partnership with a number of public bodies, including Scottish Health Impact Assessment Network and the Glasgow Centre for Population Health, as well as NHS Health Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage, who also funded the research.

Greenspace Scotland discovered that open spaces as places to exercise were a valuable resource for physical well-being, and although a survey carried out last year found that 91 per cent of Scottish people agreed, only 56 per cent felt it was true of their local greenspaces. Ea O'Neill, the knowledge and research manager for Greenspace Scotland, said: "This project came about because both Greenspace Scotland and health professionals felt that guidance on the health and equity impacts of greenspace would contribute to greater recognition of the role of greenspace in improving health."