An image of an urban river and path

QUENCH

 A network linking the Quality of Urban Environments with Nature Connectedness and Health

Connecting researchers, practitioners and policymakers across disciplines and sectors to mobilise urban ecosystems to support nature-connectedness and health, while delivering environmental benefits.

Urban ecosystems that benefit people and the environment

Research has shown that spending time in nature can benefit health and reduce health inequalities. To plan and manage our urban ecosystems for the mutual benefit of people and the environment, we need to strengthen our understanding of the links between the quality of these ecosystems and nature-connectedness and human health.

This requires us to bring together knowledge, methods and skills from a diverse range of environmental sciences, social sciences and health research, with the insights and expertise of planners, developers, urban ecosystem managers, policy makers, health professionals, NGOs and community leaders.

The aim of the QUENCH network is to support these interconnections and help build communities that are able to work towards creating urban environments that are good for people and ecosystems. The network is funded through the Natural Environment Research Council’s Healthy Environment programme and co-delivered by Lancaster University and The University of Liverpool.

The QUENCH logo

  • The QUENCH Team

    Meet the QUENCH facilitation team and explore our contributions to the 'Methods and Needs Exchange'

  • QUENCH Projects

    Learn more about the five projects funded through the initial QUENCH workshops

  • QUENCH Resources

    Explore our methods and needs exchange, films showcasing the network and its projects, and the original network handbook

  • QUENCH Events

    Find out about our past and upcoming events

Core QUENCH research questions

  1. How does nature-connectedness and subsequent health outcomes vary with urban ecosystem quality, and how might the characteristics of individual’s exposure, activity and engagement in and with these ecosystems matter?
  2. What linkages may exist between urban ecosystem quality, nature-connectedness and health inequalities, and what interventions can help tackle these inequities?
  3. How can improved urban biodiversity and ecosystem quality be achieved and maintained to the benefit of health and wellbeing? Are there instances where better ecological quality comes into tension with public health outcomes?
  4. How can wider environmental outcomes of improved health and wellbeing, mediated by better urban environments and nature-connectedness, be understood and valued?

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