108 items
The I’DGO design guidance on neighbourhood parks and open spaces is based on OPENspace’s two cross-sectional surveys of older people, nine on-site behavioural observations and five accompanied visits to local open spaces with older people.
Professor Catharine Ward Thompson, director of the OPENspace Research Centre at Edinburgh University, discusses how outdoor areas need to be made more accessible for older people to keep the population active as it ages (published online at Scotsman.com on April 28, 2014).
Are our communities – as places – ready for the opportunities and challenges posed by an ageing population? Catharine Ward Thompson guest blogs for Age Scotland.
This paper reviews research into the relationships between attributes of outdoor environments and levels of activity and exercise in populations using those environments. It takes an environmental designer’s view of relevant and effective research and research approaches that can provide evidence for policy and practice. Ward Thompson, C. 2013. ‘Activity, exercise and the planning and… Read more »
This paper draws evidence from studies designed to explore the relationship between access to natural open spaces and physical activity, health, and quality of life. The research investigated patterns of woodland and green space visits for different kinds and levels of activity, relating these to perceptions, experience, and barriers to use by different groups across… Read more »
Having a neighbourhood open space that is attractive and easy to visit can benefit older people’s well-being. However, to date little research has explored the comparative importance of different attributes of local open space for older adults. Aspinall, P.A, Ward Thompson, C., Alves, S., Sugiyama, T., Vickers, A. and Brice, R. 2010. ‘Preference and relative… Read more »
It has been found that the quality of neighbourhood environments is associated with people’s health. However, research so far is not conclusive as to mechanisms through which neighbourhood environments contribute to health in late life. Sugiyama, T. and Ward Thompson, C. 2007. ‘Older people’s health, outdoor activity and supportiveness of neighbourhood environments’ in Landscape and… Read more »
Public lecture recorded on 11.12.2012 at the Business School, University of Edinburgh. Addresses the question of why inclusive access to the outdoors matters for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.
Public lecture recorded on 16.10.2012 as part of the University of Edinburgh’s ‘Our Changing World’ series. Explores the relationship between health and access to natural environments.