Nature-based health and wellbeing programmes could save hundreds of millions of pounds each year and reduce society’s reliance on the NHS, according to a new report by The Wildlife Trusts.

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, Ricardo plc, and The Institute of Occupational Medicine Health, analysed five Wildlife Trusts programmes to see how they benefitted the NHS.

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.

In this region, Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Wild City team is working on a number projects to ensure people have access to green spaces and is about to form long-term partnerships with schools in Gosforth, Wallsend, Amble and Mickley and tailor-make educational programmes that will help pupils improve health, wellbeing and learning, whilst at the same time embedding nature in the school’s culture and curriculum.

Mike Pratt, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Chief Executive says:

“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, says:

“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:

• Integrate green prescribing into community health and social care services everywhere.
• Encourage shared investment from Government departments working on housing, employment, community cohesion, transport and culture.
• 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 www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2023-07/23JUN_Health_Report_Summary_FINAL.pdf