Green spaces can have a positive impact on both memory and mood by providing environments that help restore attention and reduce stress. Research shows that spending time in natural settings, such as parks or green schoolyards, can improve cognitive functions like attention and memory. This is explained by theories such as the Attention Restoration Theory, which suggests that nature helps replenish our mental focus after it has been depleted by demanding tasks. Additionally, natural environments can lower physiological stress responses, which in turn supports better emotional well-being.
Studies involving children have found that greening schoolyards not only improves cognitive performance, such as faster reaction times and better focus during tasks, but also enhances social behaviors and emotional recognition. This suggests that exposure to green spaces supports both mental engagement and mood regulation. For older adults, features like spatial openness, diverse vegetation, and tranquil settings in urban green spaces contribute significantly to mental restoration and improved mood. These environments help people temporarily escape daily stressors, promoting relaxation and positive feelings.
However, the benefits of green spaces on mental health are not simply about having more greenery. Research indicates that a moderate amount of green space is optimal. Too little greenery offers limited benefits, while too much can create dense environments that reduce natural light and visibility, potentially causing feelings of unease or cognitive fatigue. Therefore, well-designed green spaces that balance openness, vegetation variety, and accessibility are most effective in boosting memory and mood.
Overall, green spaces contribute to mental health by reducing stress, enhancing attention and memory, encouraging social interaction, and providing restorative experiences that improve mood across different age groups.
Sources
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12605029/
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1687874/full
https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/article/35/Supplement_4/ckaf161.716/8302871
https://www.psypost.org/researchers-identify-the-optimal-dose-of-urban-greenness-for-boosting-mental-well-being/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12619174/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/connecting-neurons/202511/how-nature-restores-our-minds
