Blue and green spaces

Green and blue spaces in urban environments are more than just assets and community infrastructure – they're an investment in preventive public health. 


Connections between people and nature are critical to our health and wellbeing. Blue (water) and green (vegetation) spaces provide opportunities for play, rest, socialising and being physically active. 


Research shows that people engage more in physical activity when in nature. They are more likely to exercise more frequently, for longer periods of time and at higher levels of intensity, because the perceived effort feels less. Amenable, enjoyable environments can boost motivation to exercise. 


Studies have also found a strong correlation between the cardiovascular health of people who live in walkable urban environments that also have higher amounts of green space. (While it could be argued that an area isn't walkable if it doesn't have tree canopy and green space, traditional approaches to assess walkability don't include green space. Australian research has recently developed a new green and blue walkability index to identify neighbourhoods that have both high walkability - using traditional walkability indices - and proximity to green and blue spaces).


Green and blue spaces can help improve heart health through: 

  • improved levels of physical activity 
  • improved social interaction and connectivity 
  • mental and emotional benefits 
  • lowering levels of stress, heart rate and blood pressure 
  • improving sleep quality 
  • reducing exposure to air and noise pollution 
  • mitigating the effects of urban heat islands 
  • filtering air pollution particles 
  • care and concern for environmental outcomes.   

 

Everyone in Australia should be able to access and meaningfully connect with nature as part of everyday life. To achieve equity and access for all, the 3-30-300 rule can be applied:

3. any person can see three trees from their home

30. the tree canopy of any area is at least 30%

300. everyone lives within 300 metres of public open space.


Suggested urban environment initiatives for urban design: 

  • Community gardens 
  • Seating 
  • Pocket parks 
  • Outdoor gyms 
  • Paths and trails 
  • Promote active and public transport options to help people access outdoor environments 

 

You can read more about ways to incorporate blue and green infrastructure in urban design outcomes:

 

References 

Al Ghanim S, Kaleta B, Campbell S, O'Keeffe J, Burke J. Nature's heart: a scoping review of the impact of nature-based interventions for cardiovascular and metabolic disease. J Public Health (Oxf). 2025. doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdaf074


Astell-Burt T, Feng X. Urban green space, tree canopy and prevention of cardiometabolic diseases: a multilevel longitudinal study of 46 786 Australians. International Journal of Epidemiology. 2020, doi: 10.1093/ije/dyz239.


Chandrabose M, Hadgraft N, Owen N, Mavoa S, Sugiyama T. Joint associations of neighbourhood walkability and greenery with walking among middle-aged and older adults: Findings from diverse urban settings in Australia. Health & Place. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103334


Del Rosario L, Astell-Burt T, Olsen JR, Thompson S, Mitchell R, Feng X. Walkable by nature? Adding

green and blue space to walkability indices and assessment of socioeconomic inequalities.

Environ Res. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2025.122278


Feng XQ, Toms R, Astell-Burt T. Association between green space, outdoor leisure time and physical activity. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. DEC 2021;66127349. doi:10.1016/j. ufug.2021.127349


Foster S, Kleeman, A., Lowe, M., Gunn, L., De Gruyter, C., Chandrabose, M., Alderton, A., Villanueva, K., Edwards, N., Mandzufas, J., Rachele, J. N., Reid, R., Astell-Burt, T., Feng, X., Owen, N., Giles-Corti, B. Designing for Density - Delivering healthy, higher-density neighbourhoods in Australia. 2025. 


Gladwell VF, Brown DK, Wood C, Sandercock GR, Barton JL. The great outdoors: how a green exercise environment can benefit all. Extrem Physiol Med. Jan 3 2013;2(1):3. doi:10.1186/2046-7648-2-3 


Jimenez MP, DeVille NV, Elliott EG, et al. Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; doi:10.3390/ijerph18094790


Makram OM, Nwana N, Pan A, et al. Interplay Between Residential Nature Exposure and Walkability and Their Association with Cardiovascular Health. JACC: Advances. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.101457 


Sugiyama T, Francis J, Middleton NJ, Owen N, Giles-Corti B. Associations Between Recreational Walking and Attractiveness, Size, and Proximity of Neighborhood Open Spaces. American Journal of Public Health. 2010; doi:10.2105/AJPH.2009.182006


White MP, Alcock I, Grellier J, et al. Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. Scientific Reports. 2019. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-44097-3