GroundsWell: Community-engaged and data-informed systems transformation of urban Green and blue space for population health

GroundsWell is a UK Prevention Research Partnership programme exploring how urban green and blue spaces can contribute to better health and reduced health inequalities. The programme adopts a whole-systems perspective to understand the complex relationships between people, communities, governance arrangements and urban environments. Cranfield University contributes systems thinking expertise to support the development and application of systems approaches within public health research. Working alongside academic, policy and community partners, Cranfield researchers are helping to develop methods, frameworks and practical tools that improve understanding of how urban green and blue spaces can support healthier, more equitable and sustainable communities.

Progress update

Cranfield researchers have introduced systems thinking approaches that are rarely used within public health research, including Soft Systems Methodology, the Viable System Model and Critical Systems Heuristics. An Integrated Systems Framework combining Soft Systems Methodology, the Viable System Model and System Dynamics has been developed and applied retrospectively to the Connswater Community Greenway regeneration programme in Belfast to identify lessons for future urban green and blue space initiatives. Cranfield has also applied the Viable System Model within the Liverpool-Birkenhead case study to improve understanding of governance and organisational complexity. In parallel, the team has delivered eight international capacity-building webinars through the WHO Collaborating Centre for Systems Science in NCDs, Environment and Equity.

Further information