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Children who live [near / nearly] woodland in a city have better mental health than children who do [now / not] . Researchers say children who visit and experience the [well / great] outdoors every day develop better thinking skills. They also have a lower [risk / brisk] of behavioural and emotional problems. [Lead / Leader] author of the research Mikael Maes from University College London talked about his research. He said: "[These / Them] findings contribute to our [understanding / understand] of the natural environment as an important protective [factor / factory] for a child's cognitive development and mental health." Another report author, Professor Kate Jones, said [saw / seeing] and hearing the sounds of nature provides psychological benefits [at / for] children.

In the four-year study, [research / researchers] studied 3,568 children aged between 9 and 15 [on / at] 31 schools in London. They examined the [lines / links] between the natural environment and thinking skills, [mentally / mental] health and overall well-being. The researchers calculated how [gone / going] to woodland and parks, and "blue space" like rivers, lakes and the sea, affected children's [healthy / health] . They asked children to take memory-based tests. The children who visited woodland every [day / daily] scored higher on the tests. They also had a 17 per cent [lower / lows] risk of emotional and behavioural problems. Mr Maes recommended [tall / all] children experience "forest bathing" or "forest therapy". This is "being immersed in the sights, sounds and [smelly / smells] of a forest".