Green social prescribing is an evidence‑informed approach that helps individuals improve their mental and physical health by connecting them with nature‑based activities and environments. Rather than focusing solely on clinical treatments, it supports personalised, community‑centred care that recognises the power of the natural world to improve wellbeing.
At its heart, green social prescribing involves social prescribing link workers or other trusted professionals having a “what matters to you?” conversation with a person. Based on that conversation, they help connect the person with green and blue activities such as local walking groups, community gardening, conservation volunteering, green gyms, wild swimming, or outdoor arts and cultural activities. These nature‑based interventions foster connection, movement, purpose, social interaction, and time outdoors—all of which are linked to better wellbeing.
🌍 Why Green Space Matters for Health
A growing body of research shows **strong links between nature exposure and improved health outcomes **including reduced anxiety and depression, better social connection, and enhanced physical activity. Evaluations of green social prescribing programmes in England have found:
- Statistically significant improvements in mental health and wellbeing, especially in populations experiencing high levels of social inequalities.
- High engagement and uptake when green social prescriptions are offered.
- Cost‑effectiveness, with positive returns on investment compared with many clinical interventions. These findings strengthen the case for green social prescribing as a complementary strategy within personalised care pathways.
Green Social Prescribing in England
In England, the NHS and partners piloted a Cross‑Government Green Social Prescribing Programme (April 2021–2023), backed by £5.77m of funding, to embed nature‑based interventions within health and social care systems. This initiative aimed to:
- Improve mental health outcomes
- Reduce health inequalities
- Reduce pressures on statutory services
- Build resilience and accessibility in community activities
- Scale effective practices across systems Seven test sites spanning urban, rural, and diverse communities demonstrated that connecting individuals with nature can meaningfully support emotional wellbeing.
🌎 Leading Global Growth: The Global Social Prescribing Alliance
The Global Social Prescribing Alliance** (GSPA)**, powered by the World Health Innovation Summit (WHIS), is leading the international expansion of green and social prescribing. GSPA is creating a global movement to embed social prescribing into health systems and communities worldwide, connecting people to nature, community, culture, and wellbeing-focused activities.
Key developments include:
- Launch of chapters in the USA, Ireland, Italy, India, and Argentina, with ongoing engagement in building regional networks and partnerships.
- Collaboration with the Norwegian Social Prescribing Group to share knowledge and best practice in Europe.
- Participation in high-level global forums, including the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), World Economic Forum (WEF), World Urban Forum (WUF), and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), to advocate for social prescribing as a tool to improve public health, social cohesion, and sustainable development.
- Supporting countries to develop policies, evaluation frameworks, and community programmes to deliver nature-based and social interventions at scale. Through these initiatives, GSPA is positioning social prescribing as a key strategy to address health inequalities, mental health challenges, and community wellbeing on a global scale.
🌿 Key Themes in Green Social Prescribing
1. Person‑Centred Care: Supporting what individuals value—whether nature, community, culture, or social activities.
2. Community & Environmental Partnership: Collaborations between health systems, community groups, environmental organisations, and local governments expand access to nature‑based activities.
3. Evidence & Policy Development: Countries and communities are developing evaluation tools and research frameworks to measure impact and build sustainable programmes.
4. Equity & Accessibility: Designing programmes that reach underserved communities is a shared priority, as engagement with green activities can reduce inequalities in mental and physical health outcomes.
🌍 Conclusion
Green social prescribing is not just a health strategy it is a global movement for holistic, community-grounded wellbeing. The Global Social Prescribing Alliance, powered by WHIS, is leading the growth of social prescribing worldwide, connecting governments, health systems, and communities to nature-based interventions that improve mental and physical health. With active chapters, international collaborations, and engagement at global forums, the future is bright for scaling nature-based solutions and social prescribing practices to communities around the world.
References
- NHS England. Green Social Prescribing. Accessed 2024.
- Seek United. Social Prescribing: A Global Movement for Longevity and Connection. Accessed 2024.
- National Health Service. Cross-Government Green Social Prescribing Programme Evaluation. 2023.
- Natural England. Evidence Information Notes on Green and Blue Space and Health. 2022.