Professor Catharine Ward Thompson, Professor of Landscape Architecture, delivered her inaugural lecture entitled "You really should get out more! Landscape quality and quality of life".

Abstract:

We all know that an active lifestyle is a healthy one, and that getting away from the stresses of everyday life can be good for us, but do we live in the kinds of environments that make these easy?

There is evidence to suggest that access to certain kinds of landscapes can make a real difference to our wellbeing, throughout the course of our lives. But, if the design of local landscapes can make a difference to our health and quality of life, do current policies reflect this in the way that our environments are planned and managed?

In this presentation I will share my interest in understanding the ways that different groups of people respond to green or natural landscapes in their local environment. In particular, I will consider what factors influence the ways people engage with, and benefit from, such natural environments, and how good landscape planning and design might make a difference. I will share some exciting recent findings that show a deeply rooted need for good quality landscapes around where we live and spend our days.

Recorded on Tuesday 11 December 2012 at the University of Edinburgh's Business School.