Can forests became part of the wellness infrastructure of our towns, cities and new developments?

Could forests become part of the wellness infrastructure of our towns, cities and new developments? The recognition of forests and green infrastructure as health assets is growing, creating an opportunity to design places where nature actively supports physical, mental and environmental wellbeing.

A fascinating new development in Portugal highlights the growing recognition of nature as a health asset.

Bussaco National Forest has become the first certified Therapeutic Forest on the Iberian Peninsula and one of only four such forests worldwide. Designed not simply as woodland, but as a place that supports physical and mental wellbeing through carefully managed natural environments, the forest combines biodiversity, walking routes, noise reduction, visual enclosure and spaces for relaxation and therapeutic activities. 

The implications for placemaking are significant. 

For decades, trees and woodland have often been viewed primarily through the lens of landscaping, biodiversity net gain or climate resilience. Increasingly, they are also being recognised as critical components of wellness infrastructure, supporting mental wellbeing, physical activity, stress reduction, social connection, biodiversity and environmental quality. 

This raises an important question: 

Could developments, regeneration projects and urban neighbourhoods incorporate wellness forests, woodland trails and therapeutic landscapes as part of their health and wellbeing offer? 

This is where Saluura comes in. 

Saluura evaluates how effectively places support wellness across six dimensions, including physical, mental and environmental wellbeing. It assesses the contribution of green infrastructure, biodiversity, canopy cover, access to nature, public spaces and the wider ecosystem of a place, helping developers, investors, landowners and public authorities understand both current performance and the potential uplift that nature-based interventions could deliver. 

By identifying opportunities for woodland creation, enhanced biodiversity, green corridors, therapeutic landscapes and nature-based recreation, Saluura helps translate the growing evidence around nature and wellbeing into practical investment, planning and placemaking decisions. 

Wellness places of the future may not simply contain green space. They will be designed around nature itself.