![\"Walsh](\"https:\/\/walshtx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/walsh-deer.jpg\")
<\/div><\/div>Louv\u2019s book draws from a new and growing body of research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development, and for the physical and emotional health of both children and adults. The green, quiet spaces of nature \u2014 absent of technology, screens and traffic \u2014 reduces stress, allowing our mind to rest its attention. This resting of our seemingly always-on mind provides benefits similar to that of meditation.[\/vc_column_text]
![\"Walsh](\"https:\/\/walshtx.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/kids-on-bikes.jpg\")
<\/div><\/div>When developed communities consciously incorporate green space into them, the human benefit can be great. These spaces serve as oases in urban areas, says Bianca Bidiuc, the Grow Local School Garden Manager at the Sustainable Food Center in Austin. \u201cThey provide rest and recreation,\u201d Bidiuc says.[\/vc_column_text][nectar_single_testimonial testimonial_style=”basic” quote=”Gardens and green settings have a meaningful impact. The presence of green space is linked to benefits such as recovery from mental fatigue, stress reduction, neighborhood social cohesion, reductions in crime, violence, and aggression, reduced morbidity in multiple disease categories, and better self-reported health.”][vc_column_text]Even city dwellers need intrinsic access to nature. It should be aforethought, woven into the fabric of everyday living as one steps out their front door \u2014 sidewalks shaded with trees, parks just a stroll away. Our betterment from nature is amplified when it\u2019s inherent and becomes the standard or new normal, as opposed to temporary excursions only enjoyed on special occasions. In those cases, the advantages of stress reduction and psychological calm are at times just as temporary as the excursion itself.<\/p>\n
There are economic benefits, as well. Garretson\u2019s firm found that up to a 20 percent increase in property values can be realized when a property is adjacent to or nearby parks or preserves. The design and use of such green space are important factors; for example, passive uses such as community greens yield higher property values than active uses, such as a baseball field. \u201cSo, why don\u2019t we build more agrarian communities?\u201d Garretson asks. \u201cBecause it doesn\u2019t fit the model that most larger, national developers follow.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Walsh neighborhood will change that. A third of its land has already been set aside as a nature preserve with the help of BRIT, the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. In addition, the Walsh family planned ahead by planting a 75-acre tree farm 10 years ago, with the intention of providing the community with beautiful, mature trees.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreenspace should not just be an afterthought,\u201d says Sean Garretson of Pegasus Planning and Development, an economic development consulting firm. \u201cIn addition to economic benefits, green space offers social benefits such as opportunities for recreation; environmental stewardship; and historic preservation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Parks and preserves within communities encourage social interaction, ecosystem awareness, and provide more opportunities for residents to get to know one another \u2014 especially if things like neighborhood gardens are part of the mix. Bidiuc says that gardens are a type of green space where these overall advantages of nature multiply.If a simple walk amongst wilder natural forms reaped so much reward \u2014 a healthier mind and body and good financial sense \u2014 communities and neighborhoods would do well to preserve those rustling leaves, not just for the good of the individual, but for the good of us all.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]http:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/adhd-awareness\/does-technology-cause-adhd.aspx BY SHELLEY SEALE<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Picture this: the whisper of leaves…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":938,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,5],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[471,1982,2828,472,1439,2014,2084,1142,2035,443,111,1742,2001,54,2129,2057,2024,128,173],"class_list":{"0":"post-2260","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-community","8":"category-nature"},"yoast_head":"\n
\n<\/a>http:\/\/richardlouv.com\/books\/last-child\/
\n<\/a>https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3162362\/<\/a><\/p>\n