Carers Trust is undertaking a research study into the role green spaces can have on carers’ wellbeing. This is being sponsored by the National Garden Scheme. A green space might be a garden, a park, a wood, a wetland, the countryside or any space where there are plants, trees and nature. These green spaces can be in urban or rural areas.
There is a large body of research that shows that access to green spaces is beneficial to both physical and mental health. Much less has been done specifically on how green spaces can be beneficial to carers. Carers Trust want to gain greater understanding from carers themselves and their lived experience on whether green spaces are beneficial, how easy or hard it is to access green spaces, what green spaces they access and how the layout, location and type of green space might be better or worse for them.
Carers Trust will use the information to guide and develop how support services and green space access providers can best support carers.
Who is it for
Carers Trust is looking for a broad range of carers to take part in this research who either:
- Access green spaces regularly alone or with friends/family. It can be with the person they care for some of the time but also needs to be as a break from their caring activities.
- Access green spaces occasionally but not enough as they would like. It can be with the person they care for some of the time but also needs to be as a break from their caring activities.
Carers must be aged 18 or over.
What is involved
The research will take place between March and April 2026.
Carers will take part in an interview which will last roughly 45mins-1hour, online. Interviews will be recorded. They will then be asked to complete a video diary, where carers would film themself before, during and after a visit to a green space.
Following the participation, Carers Trust will send you a ‘thank you’ token in recognition for your time.
How to participate
Click on the button below to complete an online form. The form should only take a few minutes to complete. Once Carers Trust received it, a member of its team will be in touch to chat about the project, check your availability and talk through any accessibility or support needs you may have.
Sign up to the Green Spaces Research project
Further information
If you have any questions, concerns or run into any issues while completing the form, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Involvement Team at involvement@carers.org. They will be very happy to help.
