Healthier with Nature

Healthier with Nature is the Green Social Prescribing Programme for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. It is one of seven national ‘test and learn’ sites for green social prescribing across England.

Healthier with Nature is funded by several national partners, including the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Natural England, NHS England and NHS Improvement, Public Health England, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, National Academy for Social Prescribing and Sport England.

Three people working on an allotment

The aims of our programme

  1. To empower more people, in particular those experiencing health in equalities to connect with nature, in order to improve their physical and mental health.
  2. To embed natured based practice in the health and social care sectors.

What is Green Social Prescribing?

Green social prescribing transforms the delivery of healthcare, placing good mental and physical health at the heart of people’s lives in their local community. It builds on individual interests and empowers people to play an active role in developing and maintaining their health.

GPs, link workers and other professionals refer people to local, non-clinical nature-based activities such as walking, gardening, animal care, conservation, art or nature connection programmes.

The Covid-19 pandemic saw many people rediscover their love of nature as a way to cope, maintain positive relationships and sustain their physical and mental health. However, many people still face a range of barriers to having these benefits and Healthier with Nature helps people find their own ways to connect with nature.

Natural England capture the health benefits of connecting with nature in this blog.

Discover great nature and health projects across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire by looking at our Green Social Prescribing Directory.

Increase your nature and health knowledge by accessing some of our training.

Join our Healthier with Nature network to be kept up to date with information about local sessions, partnership meetings, green practice and funding opportunities email bnssg.mh.greensp@nhs.net to get adding to our mailing list.

Green social prescribing in action — watch these short films giving an overview of green social prescribing and highlighting some of our fantastic local projects.