We often hear that spending time in nature is good for our mental health. But in our quest to quantify the natural world—counting trees and measuring canopy cover—we may be missing something vital. Our latest research paper published in People and Nature suggests that it’s not the number of trees that matters most, but how we feel about them. People who perceived their local treescapes as rich and varied reported better wellbeing and less psychological distress, regardless of how many trees were actually there. In our urge to measure and count, we often overlook the immeasurable—our feelings, perceptions, and connections with nature. We become so focused on the trees, we miss the wellbeing in the woodland.

This research goes beyond the usual “access to more green is better” message by showing that it’s not just the number of trees or hedgerows that matters, but how people experience and relate to them. It’s both opportunity to access and orientation to engage that matter. This has important implications for how we plan, protect, and talk about our local green spaces.

What Did the Study Do?

We surveyed over 1,300 adults living near three major treescape initiatives in the UK: The National Forest, The Mersey Forest, and Brecon Beacons National Park. Participants were asked about their mental wellbeing, life satisfaction, happiness, stress and anxiety. They were also asked how rich they thought their local treescapes were—whether there were many trees and hedgerows, a variety of species, and different sizes and ages of trees.

To complement these perceptions, the team used satellite data to measure actual tree cover and hedgerow length around each person’s home. A statistical model was then built to explore how these objective and subjective measures of treescapes related to mental health, while also considering other factors like nature connectedness, satisfaction with the local environment, and how often people visited nature.

Key Findings: Perception Is Powerful

The headline finding? People who felt their local treescapes were richer—more trees, more variety—had better wellbeing and lower psychological distress. And this wasn’t just a vague association. The perception of treescape richness had significant positive effects on all four measures of positive mental health (wellbeing, life satisfaction, happiness, and eudaimonia) and on measures of distress (depression/anxiety/stress and anxiety alone).

Interestingly, the actual number of trees or hedgerows nearby didn’t have the same consistent impact. Objective measures like tree cover density and hedgerow length were only weakly linked to mental health, and mostly through indirect pathways.

How Do Trees Help? Through Connection and Experience

The study found that perceptions of treescape richness influenced mental health through three key pathways:

1. Nature Satisfaction – People who saw their treescapes as rich were more satisfied with the natural environment near their homes.
2. Nature Visits – They were more likely to go out and spend time in nature.
3. Nature Connectedness – They felt more emotionally connected to nature.

Each of these experiences was linked to better mental health. For example, higher nature satisfaction was associated with greater happiness and lower anxiety. More frequent nature visits were linked to lower levels of depression and stress. And while nature connectedness was generally positive, the study did find a surprising twist: it was also associated with slightly higher levels of distress, possibly because people with anxiety or depression may well seek out nature more often as a coping strategy. Afterall, we know nature helps manage our emotions.

Childhood Nature Exposure Matters Too

We also looked at whether growing up around nature made a difference. It did. People who had more contact with trees and nature as children tended to have better mental health as adults. But again, this effect was mostly indirect—through their adult experiences of nature and how they perceived their local treescapes.

Implications: Planning for Perception

So, what does this mean for how we manage our neighbourhoods and treescapes? It means we need to think beyond planting more trees. Yes, tree cover matters—but how people perceive and relate to those trees matters more for mental health. A single, well-loved tree might do more for wellbeing than a dozen unnoticed ones. Variety, visibility, and emotional connection are key.

This has implications for urban planning, community engagement, and even how we talk about trees. Local authorities should consider not just the ecological value of trees, but their social and psychological value. That means involving communities in decisions about tree planting, protection, and removal. It means recognising that treescapes are not just green infrastructure—they’re part of our emotional landscape.

A Rich Treescape Is a Healthy One

Ultimately, this study adds weight to the idea that nature isn’t just something we visit—it’s something we live with, something we feel and ultimately something we’re part of. Our relationships with trees are personal, emotional, and deeply connected to our wellbeing. A rich treescape isn’t just about biodiversity—it’s about people flourishing as part of that ecology.

So next time you walk through your neighbourhood, take a moment to notice the trees. Their presence, variety, and beauty might be doing more for your mental health than you realise.