{
  "abstract": "Introduction Recent legislation in the UK regarding requirements for new developments to increase biodiversity may have significant implications for the environment and population health. Despite this, relatively little is known regarding the health and social benefits of increasing biodiversity in densely populated urban areas.Methods and analysis This protocol outlines plans for a mixed-method, longitudinal, natural experiment study which will evaluate the planned, biodiversity-focused redevelopment of six small urban parks in Edinburgh, Scotland (UK). Using systematic observation (at baseline, 1 month post-intervention and 1 year post-baseline) and a longitudinal household survey (at baseline and 1 year post-baseline), the primary outcomes of personal well-being, and secondary outcomes of nature connectedness and park usage behaviours, will be assessed, respectively. Consent for data linkage of respondent’s health records will also be sought. Process evaluation will employ semi-structured, qualitative interviews with stakeholders and walk-along interviews with local residents in order to understand implementation processes. Space-related well-being will also be assessed using citizen science approaches.Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by the University of Edinburgh’s School of Health in Social Sciences ethics committee. This study will provide further evidence for policymakers, the public and researchers of the health and social well-being effects of urban biodiversity interventions. Study findings will be disseminated via public forums such as community workshops and through publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentation at scientific conferences.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy, The University of Edinburgh School of Health in Social Science, Edinburgh, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Stephen Malden"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy, The University of Edinburgh School of Health in Social Science, Edinburgh, UK",
        "European Centre for Environment & Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, England, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Craig W McDougall"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "OPENSpace, The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Catharine Ward Thompson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "OPENSpace, The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Charlotte Wendelboe-Nelson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "OPENSpace, The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Antonio Ross-Perez"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "The University of Edinburgh School of GeoSciences, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Tom Clemens"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy, The University of Edinburgh School of Health in Social Science, Edinburgh, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Sammy Mason"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Liverpool Institute of Population Health, Liverpool, England, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Roberto Villegas-Diaz"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Alexandra Hoadley"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Alex Hunter"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy, The University of Edinburgh School of Health in Social Science, Edinburgh, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Ruth Jepson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy, The University of Edinburgh School of Health in Social Science, Edinburgh, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Andrew J Williams"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Evaluating the health and well-being effects of increasing biodiversity within multiple small parks in Edinburgh, UK: a protocol for a mixed-methods, longitudinal, pre–post natural experiment",
  "uid": "bc65ef7a-0c38-5571-933c-056f8f5652ab"
}