Green social prescribing (GSP) is supporting the government’s shift towards preventative, community-based health and care that makes a meaningful difference to people living with mental ill health.
That was the clear message at an event hosted by the National Academy of Social Prescribing (NASP) on behalf of the GSP cross-Government Partnership at London’s Southbank Centre on 25 March, where almost 100 senior representatives from government departments, national agencies, the NHS, voluntary organisations, and charities came together to reflect on the achievements of the cross-government Green Social Prescribing to Tackle and Prevent Mental Ill Health programme.
GSP connects people to nature-based activities to support mental wellbeing — from community gardening and local walking schemes to conservation volunteering, outdoor arts and culture, wild swimming and green gyms. These activities offer a tested, effective way to embed social prescribing in the NHS, enabling early intervention and helping people manage their mental health before reaching crisis point.
The programme, which launched in 2021, worked with seven Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) across England to embed referrals to nature-based activities within mental health pathways. It focused on people already engaging with health services, such as through GPs or community mental health teams.
An independent evaluation of the first phase commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and delivered by a consortium of academics from Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam, Exeter and Plymouth universities, was published in September 2024. It found statistically significant improvements in the mental wellbeing of over 8,500 people referred to GSP, including reduced anxiety and depression. The evaluation also highlighted the programme’s impact on health inequalities, by reaching people who might not otherwise come through traditional primary care routes, with 21% of participants from ethnic minorities and 57% living in socio-economically deprived areas.
The first phase, funded with £5.7 million from HM Treasury and other key government partners, demonstrated both the effectiveness and value of GSP. A second phase, backed by an additional £2.8 million, will come to an end on 31 March 2025, focusing on value for money, long-term sustainability, and robust data to support further rollout. The evaluation results are expected in late 2025.
Attendees at the event heard how this is a timely opportunity to embed social prescribing, at scale, within the NHS — using strong cross-sector partnerships to drive whole-system change, strengthen community connection, and provide cost-effective, preventative care.
Charlotte Osborne-Forde, Chief Executive of NASP, emphasised that GSP delivers "really good value for money," demonstrating positive outcomes and cost effectiveness. Jules Ford, programme delivery lead, described it as a landmark programme — the first cross-government, Treasury-funded social prescribing initiative — launched at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the public's understanding of the link between nature and mental wellbeing was growing. Nicola Gitsham and Sarah Brown from NHS England described the connections with the NHS’s Neighbourhood Health agenda and cited examples where GSP is addressing the significant treatment gap in children and young people’s mental health services.
Speakers shared examples of GSP’s transformative impact. Richard Chapman, founder of Climbing Matters, described how a small investment of £110 per participant in the outdoor climbing programme he runs, had a life-changing effect for individuals with severe mental illness.
Mathew Page, Chief Operating Officer at Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, outlined how GSP has been embedded across their services, from community prevention to inpatient secure care, recognising its therapeutic value and ability to engage underserved communities.
Dr Simon Opher MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Beyond Pills and Creative Health, also shared his support via a recorded message, highlighting how social prescribing can help people connect, reduce loneliness, and how he has seen first-hand the way it can ease pressure on NHS services.
National partners reaffirmed their commitment to GSP. David Drake, Director at Natural England, noted the nature sector’s readiness to scale GSP, citing an estimated social return of £2.42 for every £1 invested. Jeanette Bain-Burnett, Executive Director at Sport England, praised the learning gained about nature-based activities’ links to physical activity and how they both contributed to improved mental health.
The event concluded with a call to action to scale and sustain GSP beyond the original test sites — capitalising on the robust evidence, cross-sector enthusiasm, and growing momentum to make nature-based social prescribing a core part of mental health support across England.
The programme is managed by the DEFRA, with support from the Department of Health and Social Care, Natural England, NHS England, Sport England, and NASP.
To build on the work to date, a new Digital Community of Practice will be launched by NASP shortly, alongside a toolkit and resources to help spread and embed green social prescribing nationwide.
