The National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) has launched new Green Social Prescribing Practitioner Guidance, providing practical support for organisations delivering nature-based activities that improve health and wellbeing.
Developed in partnership with Thrive and the cross-government Green Social Prescribing Programme, the guidance is designed to help providers deliver safe, effective and impactful green social prescribing interventions.
What is Green Social Prescribing?
Green social prescribing connects people with nature-based activities that can support both physical and mental health. These interventions may include:
- Community gardening projects
- Local walking groups
- Conservation volunteering
- Outdoor arts and cultural activities
- Wild swimming initiatives
- Green gyms and outdoor exercise programmes
Growing evidence suggests that spending time in nature can help reduce stress, improve mental wellbeing, increase physical activity and strengthen social connections.
Why This Matters for General Practice
Social prescribing continues to play an important role in supporting patients whose needs extend beyond traditional medical interventions. Green social prescribing offers additional options for patients experiencing:
- Mild to moderate mental health difficulties
- Social isolation and loneliness
- Long-term conditions where increased activity may be beneficial
- Stress, anxiety and low wellbeing
For practices working closely with Social Prescribing Link Workers, Primary Care Networks and local voluntary sector organisations, this new guidance may help strengthen existing referral pathways and support the development of local nature-based services.
Webinar for Practitioners
To support the launch of the guidance, NASP and Thrive are hosting a practitioner webinar on 29 June, providing an opportunity to learn more about the guidance and how it can be applied in practice. Find out more here.
Practices may wish to share details of the webinar with Social Prescribing Link Workers, wellbeing teams and community partners involved in delivering local health and wellbeing services.
Key Takeaway
As the NHS continues to focus on prevention, personalised care and reducing health inequalities, green social prescribing offers another valuable tool for supporting patients in their communities. The publication of this guidance provides a useful framework for organisations delivering nature-based interventions and may help practices identify new opportunities to connect patients with local support.