A University of Surrey environmental psychologist has claimed that real Christmas trees are better for health than artificial ones. Dr Birgitta Gatersleben said people who live near nature report higher wellbeing, and real trees give the sense of bringing something 'alive' indoors.
She noted that there is plenty of evidence suggesting exposure to natural environments has beneficial effects on people. 'There is a lot of evidence to suggest that people recover more quickly from stress and mental fatigue when exposed to natural, as opposed to built-up and fake environments,' she said.
Dr Gatersleben added that plants in offices have been shown to have a positive effect on the wellbeing and creativity of workers. The findings support the idea that real Christmas trees may contribute to a healthier holiday season.
