‘Nature’s remedy’ to be prescribed by GPs
RELAXING in natural surroundings is to be prescribed on the NHS to boost mental and physical health, Environment Secretary George Eustice will announce today.
Trials of “green prescribing” in four areas will see doctors prescribing outdoor exercise such as walking and cycling groups, open air gym classes or getting involved in conservation tasks such as tree planting.
More vulnerable groups – such as elderly people suffering from loneliness – could be encouraged to take part in local group activities such as gardening.The aim is to see if outdoor activities in green spaces can be used as alternatives to prescription drugs.
The two-year programme is due to start in the autumn and will focus on areas with the greatest need including support for those recovering from coronavirus. The hope is that this will in turn reduce NHS costs.
Several studies have shown that being among greenery and nature helps ease anxiety and speeds up recovery times.
Mr Eustice says the £4million pilot study will help “ease the burden” on the NHS.
He said: “If successful, this will be scaled up across the country, making full use of our National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
“We know that people benefit both physically and mentally from being in nature. These pilots will help us to understand how best to connect people, especially those hit hardest by Covid-19, with the beautiful British countryside.”
Earlier this year the Wildlife Trusts new chief executive, Craig Bennett, urged ministers to create a “natural health service”. He asked the Government to help the NHS prescribe “time in wild places and activities that improve health and reconnect people with nature and each other”.