Tilburg, Skåne County, 11 February 2022

The Council of Nature For Health (NFH) appointed Prof. Dr. Patrik Grahn as the first Honorary Member of Nature For Health, both for his long-serving of NFH and his groundbreaking scientific research into the health effects of green areas.

Patrik Grahn is Professor at SLU, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and was co-founding father of Nature For Health.

Mr Grahn served on the NFH Council from the beginning and is one of the leading scientific pioneers of research into the importance of nature for human health and well-being.

His research has shown that the perceived qualities in outdoor green areas can be divided into eight dimensions; Perceived Sensory Dimensions (PSDs). The first studies were conducted in the 1980s, and since then many studies have been conducted, both in Sweden and internationally. The eight PSDs contain different facets of how green areas can function as health-promoting.  The research of Mr Grahn includes the positieve effects of healing gardens for people with burn out.

The research of professor Grahn inspired, and still inspires, Nature For Health to apply his scientific findings in several projects and activities.