New exhibition explores the connection between nature, photography and health

Centennial Parklands and Royal North Shore Hospital have launched a new collaborative health initiative: Nature | Photography | Health.

The exhibition, which was officially unveiled by The Hon. Professor Dame Marie Bashir (pictured above), explores the positive connections between nature and health within our community.

Nature | Photography | Health is a collaborative initiative between Centennial Parklands, Royal North Shore Hospital, with funding and resource support from Centennial Parklands Foundation and IBM.

Curated by the Health and Arts Research Council, the exhibition features landscape photographs taken at Centennial Parklands, Mt Annan and Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens.

Introducing the exhibition, Botanic Gardens & Centennial Parklands Executive Director,

Kim Ellis stated “most people intuitively know that parks and nature are good for you, but very few would understand how or why.

“This project challenges our thinking that parks should not be seen as just green spaces between buildings, but as critical health infrastructure in their own right.

“International research provides conclusively that there are numerous positive health effects of contact with nature - research also indicates that simply viewing nature can support people in confined settings, like hospitals.

“We are truly fortunate to have places like Centennial Parklands – the green lungs of our city.

“Parks and good health are inextricably linked – but the connection goes much deeper than simply being a nice place to take a walk.

“Just how beneficial Centennial Parklands is to the community is vastly underestimated.”

“During the recent World Parks Congress, I learnt about New Zealand’s Green Prescriptions program – doctors prescribing patients spend a certain number of hours a week in parks and nature as part of their treatment or rehabilitation.

“This should become a fundamental part of the Australian health care system.”

The Healthy Parks, Healthy People literature review through Deakin University provides a vast catalogue of research projects and outcomes that identify the health impacts of contact with nature.

This paper can be accessed at www.hphpcentral.com/research/healthy-parks-healthy-people

The six-week exhibition runs through april and May in the Acute Services Building, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW.

Following an initial exhibition period, the photographs will be permanently displayed in wards and treatment spaces throughout Royal North Shore Hospital’s Clinical Services Building for the direct benefit of patients, carers and staff.

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