New analysis published today, A Natural Health Service: Improving Lives and Saving Money, found that green prescribing can save more in healthcare costs than the price of running a green prescribing scheme.

Green prescribing is an evidence-based pillar of social prescribing that harnesses the health, wellbeing, and social benefits of spending time in nature. It enables GPs and other health care practitioners to refer people to nature-based programmes to improve physical and mental health.

The new research, undertaken by global strategic environmental and engineering consulting company, Ricardoplc, and The Institute of Occupational Medicine Health, analysed five Wildlife Trusts programmes to see how they benefitted the NHS. If just one of these programmes was offered to everyone likely to take them up – estimated at 1.2 million people – it could result in annual cost savings of £635.6 million. While this report focuses on how green prescribing can reduce NHS costs, there are additional health and wellbeing benefits through increased access to natural places and more wildlife.

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is part of the Green Social Prescribing for Mental Health Test and Learn Sites – Government (England) pilot, one of the projects identified in the technical report to highlight the level of activity and interest in green prescribing and the opportunities that it provides to deliver NHS cost savings and to ‘take weight out of the system’.   

Speaking about the report, Lisa Witham, Director of Wilder Communities at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said: 

“We are thrilled to see that the findings from this research demonstrate the broad range of benefits, associated with programmes like the Green Prescribing for Mental Health pilot in Derbyshire which Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is proud to be part of with our partners. 

“Research has proven that spending time outdoors in nature is great for our physical and mental health. Our externally evaluated wellbeing programmes have found that participants experienced a reduction in anxiety, increased mental wellbeing, life satisfaction, levels of how worthwhile they felt their life was, and happiness.” 

NHS occupational therapists, who worked alongside Derbyshire Wildlife Trust during the pilot project at a local NHS residential mental health rehabilitation and recovery unit fedback that “facilitating staff observed the benefits of the sessions amongst the service user group. It was noted that those experiencing anxiety, appeared to have a reduction in anxiety related symptoms whilst participating and that the facilitation of groups within the natural and open space, often encouraged service users who don’t usually enjoy group environments to engage.” Patients taking part in the pilot also commented that ‘social skills have improved’, they ‘feel more caring towards others’. 

Lisa continues: “We would like to help and encourage everyone in Derbyshire to access wildlife-rich places as part of their everyday lives, or as often as possible. People who connect with nature every day are more active and mentally resilient, experience reduced social isolation and loneliness and have better all-round health. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust host regular wellbeing events that anyone can come along to and try.” 

Dom Higgins, head of health and education at The Wildlife Trusts, added:

“This new research proves the immense value of nature-based projects for improving individual health and helping to ease the burden on the NHS. Nature is an essential part of health and social care, but we are not maximising that potential. Green prescribing works and the more we can develop these kinds of programmes, the greater the benefit to society.

“We need more investment for community-based health services and clear backing from Government for green prescribing. Ahead of the election, we’ll be paying close attention to how policies join the dots between nature, health, and social inequalities. The evidence is clear –investing in nature makes sense for people, our health service, and the economy.”

Dr Amir Khan, NHS doctor and vice-president of The Wildlife Trusts, said:

“What excites me about this research is that it shows the potential of Wildlife Trusts programmes to work alongside and reduce reliance on NHS services. Programmes that tackle some of the causes of preventable illnesses: social isolation that can lead to feelings of loneliness or depression, physical inactivity –which is linked to musculoskeletal problems, and a lack of skills or prospects leading to economic inactivity. The Wildlife Trusts’ programmes can shoulder some of the burden of ‘mainstream’ NHS services, and they should be available to all health professionals, to refer patients to, where appropriate.”

To increase access to green social prescribing projects and enable the NHS to benefit, The Wildlife Trusts are calling on the UK Government to:

1. Integrate green prescribing into community health and social care services everywhere
2. Encourage shared investment from Government departments working on housing, employment, community cohesion, transport and culture.
3. Provide support to help strengthen partnerships between local healthcare services and community-rooted organisations like Wildlife Trusts.

A Natural Health Service: Improving Lives and Saving Money can be downloaded here.

Find out more about Derbyshire Wildlife Trust next Wellbeing session and how to attend