Green social prescribing: time in nature can increase wellbeing

Nature is a powerful tool that can be harnessed by social prescribers to improve people's health and wellbeing, according to a series of new evidence reviews led by a UCL researcher. Researchers worked with the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) to prepare four Evidence Information Notes, commissioned by Natural England, relating to the links between time spent in nature and mental and physical health for adults and children, and an NHS England-commissioned review and briefing on the role of nature-based social prescribing and how it can be used to support those who may be experiencing health inequalities. Together, the reviews have extracted evidence from hundreds of high-quality studies, examining the experiences of thousands of people to understand how nature has affected them. The result is a large body of evidence, detailing the many ways in which spending time in nature, and connecting with it, is beneficial for our health and wellbeing. Professor Helen Chatterjee (UCL Genetics, Evolution & Environment), lead author of the review and co-author of all four Evidence Information Notes, said: "These reviews draw on a wide range of evidence to show that spending time in nature is good for our mental and physical health, and that green social prescribing supports social connections and reduces isolation and loneliness. "One recent study showed that spending 120 minutes per week benefits your health and wellbeing. Another study showed that adults and communities exposed to local green spaces show reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity, and increased likelihood of physical activity. Gardening has been shown to be particularly beneficial to both physical and mental health." How can time spent in nature affect our health?