Understanding the links between the urban environment and health, particularly the benefits of the
outdoor environment for mental health, is an ever-increasing priority (Appleby, 2013; Thompson,
2002). The World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines (2010) promote inclusion of mental health
strategies into non-health-related government policy, and estimate that 450 million people globally
suffer from mental health problems. The Health and Social Care Act (National Health Service, 2012) and
the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF, 2012) emphasise the need for local, holistic solutions to
health problems, and encourage planning departments and local health services to work in partnership
to improve the mental health of urban inhabitants. The current UK Government agenda aims to reduce
stigma towards mental health problems and integrate mental health support into wider health policy
(HM Government, 2012). However, there are still gaps in the evidence base that prevent a full integration
of the health benefits of open space into policy agendas and the planning, design and management
of public spaces in order to maximise health and well-being.