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Show Volume XXIII Issue XVII The Ogden Valley news February 15, 2016 Living Landscapes Bring Surprising Valley Elementary Health Benefits: Studies show that green space Annual Wax & landscaping contribute to health, happiness and intellect As much of the country deals with winter to a Dutch researchers. These illnesses included weather from snow falls to grey skies, it’s natu- depression, anxiety, heart disease, diabetes, ral to long for spring when our yards, parks, asthma, and migraines. A 2015 study found that and other natural spaces bloom. Did you know people living on streets with more trees had a there’s a good reason why you may pine for boost in heart and metabolic health. green? Living landscapes are an important part Living landscapes make you smarter. of the outdoor lifestyle that Americans enjoy, Children gain attention and working memory but the benefits go beyond a benefits when they are exposed summer barbecue and backyard to greenery, says a study led by baseball. Green spaces are necPayam Dadvand of the Centre essary for your health! for Research in Environmental “The advantages of grass and Epidemiology in Barcelona. In landscaping surpass the usual addition, exposure to natural physical benefits that result settings may be widely effective from outdoor activity,” said in reducing attention deficit/ Kris Kiser, president and CEO, hyperactivity disorder sympOutdoor Power Equipment toms in children. Institute (OPEI). “Numerous This applies to adults as studies have found that people well. Research has also shown who spend more time outside that being around plants helps or are exposed to living landyou concentrate better at home scapes are happier, healthier, and at work. Charlie Hall, and smarter.” Ellison Chair in International Researchers have studied Floriculture at Texas A&M the impact of nature on human University, believes that spendwellbeing for years, but recent ing time in gardens can improve studies have found a more direct attention span and memory percorrelation between human formance by as much as 20 health—particularly related to percent. Photo by Linda Brown. stress, and the importance of A National Institute of people’s access to nature and managed land- Health study found that adults demonstrate sigscapes. nificant cognitive gains after going on a nature Getting dirty is actually good for you. Soil walk. In addition, a Stanford University study is the new Prozac, according to Dr. Christopher found that walking in nature, rather than in a Lowry, a neuroscientist at the University of concrete-oriented urban environment resulted Bristol in England. Mycobacterium vaccae in in decreased anxiety, rumination, and negative soil mirrors the effect on neurons that Prozac affect, and produced cognitive benefits, such as provides. The bacterium stimulates serotonin increased working memory performance. production, which explains why people who Living landscapes help you heal faster. spend time gardening and having direct contact Multiple studies have also discovered that with the soil feel more relaxed and happier. plants in hospital recovery rooms or views Living near living landscapes can of aesthetically-pleasing gardens help patients improve your mental health. Researchers in heal up to one day faster than those who are in England found that people moving to greener more sterile or austere environments. areas experienced an immediate improvement All of these benefits reinforce the imporin mental health, which was sustained for at tance of maintaining our yards, parks, and other least three years after they moved. The study community green spaces. Trees, shrubs, grass, also showed that people relocating to a more and flowering plants are integral to human developed area suffered a drop in mental health. health. Not only do they provide a place for Green spaces can make you healthier too. kids and pets to play, they directly contribute to People who live within a half mile of green our mental and physical well-being. space (such as parks, public gardens, green For more tips on maintaining a living landways, and open space) were found to have a scape, even in drought conditions, visit <www. lower incidence of fifteen diseases, according opei.org/stewardship/> Above diagram of suggested road alignment at a 40 mph engineered speed design through a 1.25-mile section of roadway near the mouth of Ogden Canyon. CANYON STUDY cont. from page 1 to the roadway. Visual diagrams of the various alternatives and suggestions in the study are which shows a suggested realignment of the provided on each page. road to accommodate a greater speed through the canyon. To accommodate higher speeds and to address safety issues, the study also suggests the addition and use of roadway cantilevers and/or river bridges that would project out over the Ogden River. The use of such engineering structures would be utilized to straighten the road in some areas. A section of the study also addresses possible plans to accommodate bikers in the canyon, including the addition of a 4- or 6-foot shoulder Museum On Wednesday, January 27, fifth-grade students at Valley Elementary participated in the school’s annual wax museum project. Students were asked to select a famous person to learn more about, produce a display with facts about this person, then dress up in costume as the person they learned about. Parents and community members then visited the school where the students sat or stood statuesquely as if they were part of a wax museum exhibit while visitors walked up and down the isles where the students were “frozen” in character. Students shown: Benjamin Franklin, Elvis Presley, and Amelia Earhart. Page 13 |