Today's lecture focuses on the impact of urban green spaces on mental health. Recent studies have shown that access to parks and gardens can significantly reduce stress levels. However, the size of the green space matters less than its proximity to residential areas. A key finding from a 2021 survey in London indicated that people living within a five-minute walk of a small park reported better emotional well-being than those with larger but distant parks. Additionally, the presence of water features, such as ponds or fountains, was linked to higher relaxation scores. Surprisingly, the diversity of plant species had no measurable effect on mood.