Have gardens protected mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic?

This research aims to understand the relationship between access to greenspace and life satisfaction during the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK. Combining Ordnance Survey Greenspace Mastermap with the UK Longitudinal Household Study Covid sample, we use spatio-temporal analyses to track life satisfaction for the year from May 2020-2021 and examine whether access to public greenspaces and private gardens are protective against worsening mental health, particularly for those who have tested positive for Covid. Results of the preliminary analysis suggest a strongly positive association between access to private gardens and life satisfaction throughout the pandemic. We continue to explore how these associations relate to public greenspace access, and how these fluctuate across regions with varying deprivation. The results of the full analyses will provide evidence for interventions to support mental wellbeing during public health crises.