Gardening and ‘outdoor mindfulness’ can improve mild to moderate mental health conditions in as little as 12 weeks, according to the findings of a government-backed programme known as green social prescribing.
News
Gardening as good as some therapies for mental health, indicates national study
By
on 01 May 2025
Gardening and ‘outdoor mindfulness’ can improve mild to moderate mental health conditions in as little as 12 weeks, according to the findings of a government-backed programme known as green social prescribing.
Seven ‘test and learn’ green social prescribing sites were identified across England, which included a programme in Humber and North Yorkshire – the first of the seven sites to publish results from the national programme.
Green social prescribing is a practice whereby a healthcare professional refers a patient to community-based nature activities to help improve health and wellbeing beyond medical treatments.
Photograph: iStock
More than 220 participants from across Humber and North Yorkshire were included in the programme, and their mental health status was evaluated before and after exposure to activities.
The team used the Office for National Statistics measures of personal wellbeing, as well as the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) to understand if participants had made improvements.
Signs of improvement were similar to those seen in short-term cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), said researchers.
Professor Peter Coventry, a director of mental health at the university of York, said: “We have known for some time that nature has a positive impact on health and wellbeing, but in more recent years, a stronger evidence-base has grown that proves this to be true for mental health in particular.
“The fact that activities such as gardening, tending allotments, and care farming had the most impact on the participants in our study, demonstrated that it is not just about being passive in nature, but connecting with it in a meaningful way.
The study showed positive impacts were seen in all ages, ranging from age 18 to 85, and across genders.
Researchers are now calling for more investment to increase the number of green social prescribers that GPs and other health and social care professionals can refer their patients to.
More information here
NEWS
"Great British Railways reform brings opportunities, but we mustn’t compromise safety,” urges rail chief
By Belinda Liversedge on 17 July 2025
As the government’s planned new publicly owned body, Great British Railways (GBR), comes down the tracks in two years' time the railways’ chief inspector has sounded a note of cautious optimism.
New charitable offer launched for UK SME British Safety Council members
By British Safety Council on 14 July 2025
British Safety Council Members who employ fewer than 250 staff and are based in the UK can now take advantage of a new charitable offer.
Campaigner hails ban on silencing victims of workplace sexual harassment as “huge milestone”
By Belinda Liversedge on 09 July 2025
A campaigner for women’s rights has welcomed an amendment to ban employers from using Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to silence victims of workplace sexual harassment.