George Murrell joined Forest Research in July 2023. Before joining Forest Research, George completed both a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Environmental Psychology at the University of Surrey.
George has interests in how multi-sensory experiences in different environments impact human health and wellbeing and the use of psychological interventions to encourage pro-environmental/pro-nature behaviour change. Related to these research interests, he completed his MSc thesis which explored the links between natural and anthropogenic soundscapes, psychological restoration and intentions to engage in place-protective behaviours, using experimental research methods. George is keen to continue researching how spending time in nature can deliver psychological benefits and how this might affect individuals’ environmental behaviours.
At Forest Research, George is working on a number of projects within the group’s wellbeing and land manager behaviours thematic research areas and has experience in using both quantitative and qualitative research methods.
Affiliations
Member – International Association People-Environment Studies (IAPS)
Member – International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP)
George Murrell
BSc, MSc
Related Research
Related Publications
Peer reviewed journal articles
Gatersleben, B., White, E., Wyles, K.J., Golding, S.E., Murrell, G., Scarles, C., Xu, T., Brockett, B.F.T., Willis, C. (2024). Everyday places to get away – Lessons learned from Covid-19 lockdowns. Landscape and Urban Planning 246, 105026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2024.105026
Xu, S., Murrell, G., Golding, S. E., Brockett, B. F. T., Gatersleben, B., Scarles, C., White, E. V., Willis, C., & Wyles, K. J. (2021). #Springwatch #WildMorningswithChris: Engaging With Nature via Social Media and Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Lockdown. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.701769
Book chapters
Gatersleben, B., Murrell, G., & Geusen, J. (2023). Evaluating the effectiveness of pro-environmental behaviour change interventions: a review of reviews. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800882133.00010
Reports and Other Publications
Murrell, G. & Hall, C. (2025). ‘My motivation kind of grew with the trees’ – experiences of woodland volunteers in Great Britain (In-Brief). Forest Research, Alice Holt. Available at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/publications/in-brief-woodland-volunteers/
Beesley, J., Brockett, B., Colley, E., Hall, C., Karlsdóttir, B., Murrell, G. (2025). How do people experience creation of new, local woodlands? (StoryMap). Available at: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5c713d215e20490cbb959a1d40cb276c
Murrell, G., Hall, C., Karlsdottir, B. (2024). Active engagement with trees, woods and forests: A review of the literature on motivations and barriers to volunteering, community ownership and other types of active woodland engagement (Report). Forest Research, Alice Holt. Available at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/publications/active-engagement-with-trees-woods-and-forests-a-review-of-the-literature/
White, E. V., Gatersleben, B., Wyles, K. J., Murrell, G., Golding, S. E., Scarles, C., & Xu, S. (2021). Gardens and wellbeing during the first UK Covid-19 lockdown (Research Report No. 1). Available at: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2021-07/garden-report.pdf
White, E. V., Golding, S. E., Gatersleben, B., Scarles, C., Wyles, K. J., Murrell, G., & Xu, S. (2023). Trees and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic (Research Report No. 2). Available at: https://cdn.forestresearch.gov.uk/2024/01/Trees-wellbeing-during-the-Covid-19-pandemic.pdf