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Nature prescriptions boost UK happiness
9 Oct
Summary
- Nature projects aim to reduce anxiety and improve happiness.
- Millions of UK adults lack nature access but report health benefits.
- GPs referred over a million people to social prescribing last year.
Community initiatives focused on connecting individuals with nature in underserved areas are gaining traction to alleviate anxiety and foster happiness. Research indicates that while approximately 4.5 million adults in the UK have no access to nature, 80% believe outdoor time has positively impacted their general health and well-being over the past year.
Social prescribing has seen a significant uptake, with GPs referring 1.3 million individuals in a single year. A notable 76% of these patients expressed openness to receiving nature-related recommendations from healthcare professionals. The National Lottery Community Fund actively supports such projects, having invested over £24 million in the last two years to help people improve their health through nature.
One success story is the Birds, Bees, Bikes & Trees project in the north east, which has transformed lives. Jordan, a young father from Gateshead, found the project instrumental in managing his OCD and anxiety, which had been hindering his daily life and employment. The project provided him with a reason to engage with the outdoors and people, ultimately leading to a career as a beekeeper and plans to integrate beekeeping into school curricula.
