Green Social Prescribing in Nottingham
Nottingham’s FPA project is piloting Green Social Prescribing in the city. Sophia Beswick tells us more.
Our approach
Our intention is to make green prescriptions and nature connectedness a part of everyday life. Building on Nottingham City’s green commitments, the GSP programme aims to connect people, places and projects within a green network, offering something for everyone, irrespective of ability or location.
On a citywide scale, health, care and community professionals will gain knowledge in offering well-designed green prescriptions which build nature connections, making experiences with nature more accessible for all.
At a very local level community spaces, places and neighbourhood partners will empower people to get involved, value and treasure local green spaces.
On an individual level, people will be supported to access what they need to connect with nature both physically and digitally.
Target Aims
Develop the Green Network
Invest in the Community and Voluntary Sector
Build on the city’s assets
Focus on inequalities
Build sustainability
So Far and Next Steps
Launched in May during Mental Health Week, Nottingham Community & Voluntary Service (NCVS) is leading the scheme, working closely with Framework, the Canal & River Trust and local partners.
In June we launched our Green Small Grant scheme for community and voluntary organisations to develop nature-based activities.
In June/July, 81 people participated in paddle boarding and kayaking activities in partnership with Canal & River Trust and 30 people joined the Framework community gardening project.
Sophia Beswick, August 2021
What is Green Social Prescribing?
Green Social Prescribing (GSP) links people to a variety of nature-based activities including active travel, park runs, community gardening, food growing projects, conservation volunteering, green gyms, arts and cultural activities, and literature or poetry focussing on nature. In Nottingham, examples of green prescriptions could include anything from joining a Covid-secure wellness walk along the Nottingham and Beeston Canal, to growing vegetables in a community garden or just taking a moment to listen to the birds and enjoy some quiet time in one of Nottingham’s parks.
GSP can prevent and tackle mental ill health
Our Pilot will test how to make GSP an integral part of supporting local communities in order to:
Improve mental health outcomes
Reduce health inequalities
Reduce demand on the health and social care system
Develop best practice in making green social activities more resilient and accessible
Target Communities
People living with long-term conditions & elderly people
BAME communities
Families in disadvantaged communities
Those without access to gardens, balconies or green space.
We are currently working with Nottingham Trent University Pervasive Computing and Highbury Hospital to use ‘wearables’ to track the benefits of GSP for mental health outpatients at their community garden, and also as part of the Thriving Communities project for families.
We are also working with Go Jauntly to curate short ‘Wonder Walks’ in our three initial areas of focus, as well as creating wildlife and biodiversity location maps alongside them.