**5. Conclusion**

In the study by Björk et al. (2008) green characteristics of the nearby natural environment was shown to be positively associated with neighbourhood satisfaction and physical activity. The association with neighbourhood satisfaction was especially marked among tenants, and a beneficial effect on BMI was also noted in this group. No evident effect of the green characteristics on self-rated health was detectable. The cross-sectional design limits definite conclusions regarding cause-effects. A further limitation is that the study was restricted to rural and semi-urban areas and the generalizability of the results to inner-city areas is therefore uncertain.

The present epidemiological study aimed at finding general associations between well-being and proximity to nature for the population in Skåne. Epidemiological studies provide overall patterns of associations and variations. These kinds of studies do not necessarily give

One pitfall of using objective data such as forest types, topography, etc., is the issue of interpreting and combining the data so they correspond to common perceptions of nature characteristics. That is what the present paper tries to describe. It is the first study of its kind, and there is a great deal more research to be done to improve the methods. One issue, for example, is that Corine land cover data are derived from an analysis of satellite data, and this is associated with a relatively large percentage of misinterpretation, for some land use

Because the book focuses on agriculture, we would like to comment additionally on the agricultural landscape. Skåne is in the southwestern half of the region dominated by agriculture. The soil is fertile. Avenues and other landscape elements are impressive. A rather flat zone 30 kilometres wide and following the southern and western coast is the most productive part (the Baltic moraine clay), and is at the same time the most urbanized area, with many roads and railroads creating noise. To some extent this zone is spacious and includes long views, but it is not particularly accessible for walking, and walking promotes a feeling of restfulness. More accessible is the diagonal zone of Skåne from southeast to northwest. This zone has more hills and small scale farmland and is more accessible and silent, offering a restful feeling of "entering another world", a coherent whole. Both zones are rich in impressive visible cultural history, as can be seen in the last

There is a need for validation of this kind of analysis. High correlations between the prevalence of GIS-evaluated characteristics and people's responses concerning health and well-being indicate that development of parameters for GIS evaluation is on the right path. Overall, we found a high correlation between people´s perception of a cosy atmosphere and the prevalence of the characteristics. The Skåne study shows that the rural landscape, both

The Swedish National Institute of Public Health now recommends these characteristics as a checklist for green planning (FHI, 2009). The eight characteristics have been implemented in a number of planning projects for housing and infrastructure in Sweden

In the study by Björk et al. (2008) green characteristics of the nearby natural environment was shown to be positively associated with neighbourhood satisfaction and physical activity. The association with neighbourhood satisfaction was especially marked among tenants, and a beneficial effect on BMI was also noted in this group. No evident effect of the green characteristics on self-rated health was detectable. The cross-sectional design limits definite conclusions regarding cause-effects. A further limitation is that the study was restricted to rural and semi-urban areas and the generalizability of the results to inner-city

arable land and forests, plays an important role in health promotion.

a "correct" picture of individual cases.

types around 30% (Rost & Ahlcrona, 2005).

map.

(Skärbäck, 2007).

**5. Conclusion** 

areas is therefore uncertain.

Map 1. Serene. The western part of Skåne Region consists mainly of arable land and cities. Silent (<30 dB(A) nature areas accessible for recreation are rare in that urbanized area. The eastern part has much more assessable nature land, however partly penetrated by road noise, which reduces the serenity.

The Agricultural Landscape for Recreation 237

Map 3. Lush, rich in species. Small parts of nature. And some large nature reservation areas.

No reduction of noise.

Map 2. Wild. The criteria for silence (<40 dB(A)) is not as heavy as for Serene. Some open land use categories from Serene are left out here.

Map 2. Wild. The criteria for silence (<40 dB(A)) is not as heavy as for Serene. Some open

land use categories from Serene are left out here.

Map 3. Lush, rich in species. Small parts of nature. And some large nature reservation areas. No reduction of noise.

The Agricultural Landscape for Recreation 239

Map 5. Culture. Mainly identified from national and regional plans for preservation.

Map 4. Space. Mainly open and half open accessible land, e.g. classified in a national plan for preservation of farmland.

Map 4. Space. Mainly open and half open accessible land, e.g. classified in a national plan

for preservation of farmland.

Map 5. Culture. Mainly identified from national and regional plans for preservation.

The Agricultural Landscape for Recreation 241

Lush, rich in species

Björk J, Albin M, Grahn P, Jacobsson H, Ardö J, Wadbro J, Östergren PO, Skärbäck E. april

CORINE. 1985. Coordination of Information on the Environment. European Commission. (http://reports.eea.europa.eu/COR0-landcover/en/land\_cover.pdf). Coss, R.G. 1991. Evolutionary Persistence of Memory-Like Processes*. Concepts in* 

Grahn, P & Stigsdotter, U. 2003. Landscape Planning and Stress. Urban Forestry & Urban

Grahn, P. Stigsdotter, U. & Berggren-Bärring, A-M. 2005. A planning tool for designing

Hartig, T., Böök, A., Garvill, J., Olsson, T. & Gärling, T. 1996. Environmental influences on psychological restoration. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 37:378-393.

Ottosson, J. & Grahn P. 2005a. A Comparison of Leisure Time Spent in a Garden with

Leisure Time Spent Indoors: On Measures of Restoration in Residents in Geriatric

sustainable and healthy cities. The importance of experienced characteristics in urban green open spaces for people's health and well-being. In Conference proceedings *"Quality and Significance of Green Urban Areas",* April 14-15, 2005, Van Hall Larenstein University of Professional Education, Velp, The Netherlands. Hartig, T. 1993. Testing Restorative Environments Theory. Doctoral Dissertation. University

http://luur.lub.lu.se/luur?func=downloadFile&fileOId=1056501

Greening Vol 2, pp 1-18 (2003). Urban & Fischer Verlag, Jena.

FHI. 2009. Grönområden för fler. Statens folkhälsoinstitut. R 2009:02

Kaplan, R. & Kaplan, S. 1989. The Experience of Nature. Cambridge. Lantmäteriverket. 2003. Svenska CORINE, Marktäckedata (SMD).

Care. *Landscape Research* vol 30 23 – 55.

2008, Recreational values of the natural environment in relation to neighbourhood satisfaction, physical activity, obesity and wellbeing. Journal of epidemiology and

**6. References** 

community health. 2008;2. (e-publ.)

*Neuroscience.* Vol 2, pp 129-168.

of California, Irvine.

Serene Space

Serene Space

Wild Culture

Lush, rich in species

#### **6. References**

Björk J, Albin M, Grahn P, Jacobsson H, Ardö J, Wadbro J, Östergren PO, Skärbäck E. april 2008, Recreational values of the natural environment in relation to neighbourhood satisfaction, physical activity, obesity and wellbeing. Journal of epidemiology and community health. 2008;2. (e-publ.)

http://luur.lub.lu.se/luur?func=downloadFile&fileOId=1056501


**Section 7** 

**Animal Nutrition** 

