Research has consistently shown that access to parks and gardens is beneficial to people’s health and wellbeing. In this paper, we explore the role of both public and private green space in subjective health and wellbeing during and after the first peak of the COVID-19 outbreak that took place in the UK in the first half of 2020. It makes use of the longitudinal COVID-19 Public Experiences (COPE) study, with baseline data collected in March/April 2020 (during the first peak) and follow-up data collected in June/July 2020 (after the first peak) which included an optional module that asked respondents about their home and neighbourhood (n = 5,566). Regression analyses revealed that both perceived access to public green space (e.g. a park or woodland) and reported access to a private green space (a private garden) were associated with better subjective wellbeing and self-rated health. In line with the health compensation hypothesis for green space, private gardens had a greater protective effect where the nearest green space was perceived to be more than a 10-minute walk away. This interaction was however only present during the first COVID-19 peak when severe lockdown restrictions came into place, but not in the post-peak period when restrictions were being eased. The study found few differences across demographic groups. A private garden was relatively more beneficial for men than for women during but not after the first peak. The results suggest that both public and private green space are an important resource for health and wellbeing in times of crisis.

研究一直表明，进入公园和花园有益于人们的健康和福祉。在本文中，我们探讨了 2020 年上半年在英国发生的 COVID-19 爆发的第一个高峰期间和之后公共和私人绿地在主观健康和福祉中的作用。它利用了纵向 COVID-19 公共体验 (COPE) 研究，基线数据于 2020 年 3 月/4 月（第一个高峰期间）收集，后续数据收集于 2020 年 6 月/7 月（第一个高峰之后），其中包括一个可选模块，要求受访者对其家庭和社区的看法 (n = 5,566)。回归分析表明，无论是对公共绿地的感知访问（例如 公园或林地）和报告的私人绿地（私人花园）的使用权与更好的主观幸福感和自评健康相关。根据绿色空间的健康补偿假说，私人花园具有更大的保护作用，因为最近的绿色空间被认为距离酒店有 10 分钟以上的步行路程。然而，这种互动只出现在第一个 COVID-19 高峰期间，当时严格的锁定限制已经到位，但在限制放松的高峰期后并不存在。该研究发现人口群体之间几乎没有差异。在第一个高峰期（但在第一个高峰期之后），私家花园对男性的益处要大于对女性的益处。结果表明，公共和私人绿地都是危机时期健康和福祉的重要资源。