SUGi x University of Oxford: Take part in new research in London.

If you have walked through green spaces, you will have likely noticed the distinctive scents of the plants around you, resulting in fresh, citrusy smells in some areas, and perhaps pine aromas in others.

Research shows that exposure to these familiar plant-derived scents can induce beneficial physiological and psychological changes including reduced levels of stress and anxiety and enhanced immunity.

Led by SUGi and Oxford’s Long Term Ecology Laboratory (OXLEL), we will study the contribution of SUGi Pocket Forests, particularly their scents, in promoting positive health outcomes in London.

Schedule: September, 2025

Serenity Forest | Tuesday 2nd
Chelsea & Kensington, London

Forest of Thanks | Wednesday 17th
Barking & Dagenham, London

Southbank Forest | Wednesday 24th
Waterloo, London

Studies will be conducted at the locations for approx 2 hours.

Further information found about the study:

This study will take place at SUGi Pocket Forests and nearby urban sites. We are seeking healthy adult volunteers (aged 18+) to help us understand how spending time near urban plants affects our physical health and mood. To take part, no scientific knowledge is required, and full guidance will be provided by the researchers throughout the process.

Participants will be asked to spend 30 minutes in one SUGi Pocket Forest and 30 minutes in a nearby urban area. In total, no more than two hours of your time is expected for this study. And, as a thank you for your time, you will be given a SUGi merch item.

Find out more about the study: https://oxlel.web.ox.ac.uk/the-role-of-volatile-organic-compounds-in-physical-and-mental-wellbeing-outcomes

Participant Information Sheet

The Role of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds in Physical and Mental Well-being Outcomes.

You are being invited to take part in a research study. Before you decide, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. Ask us if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information. Take time to decide whether you wish to take part.

Why is this research being conducted?

This study will investigate the impact of encountering plants upon human well-being. We are particularly interested in the potential physical and psychological impacts associated with plant-emitted scents, also known as biogenic volatile organic compounds (bVOCs). To do so, we will map plant volatiles across three different SUGi Pocket Forests located in London and a nearby urban site. We will also record health and well-being responses after 30 minutes sitting in these different environments.

Participants will be asked to visit one SUGi Pocket Forest, where they will be asked to spend approximately 30 minutes sitting. Participants will also be asked to spend 30 minutes sitting in a nearby urban area. Heart rate (bpm) and heart rate variability (HRV) measurements will be measured by participants and a self-assessment questionnaire will be completed before and after spending 30 minutes in these environments. These measurements will be used to determine whether any change in physiological and psychological state has occurred following the exposure to the plants present and the associated aromas.

Why have I been invited to take part?

You have been identified as a potential participant due to being an adult (18+ years) capable of giving informed consent. We are aiming to recruit 30 participants to take part in this part of the study at each of the three SUGi Pocket Forests.

Do I have to take part?

No. It is up to you to decide if you want to take part in this research. You can withdraw yourself from the research at any time, without giving a reason. You can withdraw your data up to your attendance of the SUGi Pocket Forest, and if you withdraw, no further data would be collected. Any data collected will be kept under the University’s policy for three years but will not be used in publication.

What will happen if I take part in the research?

The research will take place at three different SUGi Pocket Forest sites in London. This includes 1. Southbank Centre, Lambeth, 2. Forest of Thanks, Barking & Dagenham, 3. Serenity Forest, Kensington. At each site you will also visit a nearby environment, where you will spend 30 minutes sitting.

Written consent will be obtained from you in advance of conducting the study. You will have the opportunity to ask any further questions that you may have about the project following a briefing of the study requirements.

Each visit will begin with meeting with a member of the team and other volunteers at a specific location at each SUGi Pocket Forest site. This information will be communicated to the participant in advance of their attendance to the sites.

You will be required to take two measurements of each physiological and psychological marker at each site, once before beginning 30 minutes and again at the end of your time. Clear instructions will be provided to you. The measurements will be taken by yourself. There will be no blood samples.

You will be asked to spend 30 minutes near both the SUGi Pocket Forest and nearby urban site sitting alone. You will be asked not to carry out any intense physical exercise, but to sit and complete a sedentary task such as looking at your phone, using your laptop or reading. You will take baseline measurements of heart rate (bpm) and heart rate variability (HRV) and complete a self-assessment questionnaire after the 30 minutes spent sitting. You will be required to use the Welltory app on a smartphone provided by the researchers to monitor biometrics such as heart rate (beats per minute) and heart rate variability (HRV) during your time at each site. Clear instructions will be provided upon how to use this technology.

You will be asked to complete a subjective well-being test (STAI- State Trait Anxiety Inventory) before and after each visit. We will provide clear instructions upon how to use the self-assessment questionnaire.

You can ask to pause or stop the research activities at any time during your visit to the SUGi Pocket Forest sites. This includes during your visit to the SUGi Pocket Forest itself, and the nearby urban site.

Each session will conclude with an opportunity to clarify any questions you may have.

What are the possible disadvantages and risks in taking part?

There should be no risk to you in taking part. You will not be shown your results of subjective well-being test scores to avoid any distressing feelings. All participant responses will be anonymous.

Are there any benefits in taking part?

While there are no immediate benefits for you in participating in the research, it is hoped that this research will lead to a better understanding of the impacts of spending time near to plants upon mental and physical well-being outcomes.

Expenses and payments

You will be given an item of SUGi merchandise following your completion of the study.

What will happen to the samples I give?

The physiological and psychological measurements will be labelled so that you cannot be identified, for example, a number ID will be used to label all participant responses.

What information will be collected and why is the collection of this information relevant for achieving the research objectives?

The data collected from you will be your consent form, contact details and research data (biometric data and questionnaire responses).

Research data will be stored for three years in line with the University’s policy on data. After this time, the data will be deleted from the Nexus 365 system.

Contact details shall be deleted upon completion of the research.

The researcher and the research team will have access to this research data.

Data from the subjective well-being tests will be labelled with an ID number only. The subjective well-being scores will be used to assess what your perceived psychological state is and will be used in the assessment of whether there have been any changes whilst sitting in these outdoor environments.

Consent forms will be stored in the office in the Department of Biology in a locked cabinet that is only accessible to the researchers. The data will be stored for three years as required by the University of Oxford, and then destroyed.

Biometric data will be kept for 3 years and will only be labelled with an ID number.

Please note that Identifiable data used for publication (both academic and publicity) will be retained indefinitely, until such time as it is no longer required.

Will the research be published? Could I be identified from any publications or other research outputs?

The findings from the research will be written up in publications.

You will have the opportunity to appear in photographs, but only after informed consent from you has been gained. We would like your permission to use direct quotations but without identifying you in any research outputs.

Data Protection

The University of Oxford is the data controller with respect to your personal data, and as such will determine how your personal data is used in the research.

The University will process your personal data for the purpose of the research outlined above. Research is a task that we perform in the public interest.

Further information about your rights with respect to your personal data is available from https://compliance.web.ox.ac.uk/individual-rights.

Who has reviewed this research?

This research has received ethics approval from a subcommittee of the University of Oxford Central University Research Ethics Committee. (Ethics reference: R89114/RE005)

Who do I contact if I have a concern about the research, or I wish to complain?

If you have a concern about any aspect of this research, please contact Molly Tucker at 01865 275000 / molly.tucker@biology.ox.ac.uk and we will do our best to answer your query. We will acknowledge your concern within 10 working days and give you an indication of how it will be dealt with. If you remain unhappy or wish to make a formal complaint, please contact the University of Oxford Research Governance, Ethics & Assurance (RGEA) team at rgea.complaints@admin.ox.ac.uk or on 01865 616480.

Further Information and Contact Details

If you would like to discuss the research with someone beforehand (or if you have questions afterwards), please contact:

Molly Tucker
Department of Biology
South Parks Road
Oxford
OX1 3RB
University email molly.tucker@biology.ox.ac.uk