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A consortium of NHS charities has been awarded a share of £1 million to create green spaces for communities with limited access to nature. This initiative benefits NHS workers, mental health patients, and residents of urban areas.
The Greener Communities Fund—a partnership between environmental charity Hubbub and NHS Charities Together—announced that it will distribute individual grants ranging from £25,000 to £200,000 to selected projects over the next two years.
Recipients of these grants include:
A sensory garden and mindfulness area for children with additional health needs in Dorset.
A garden with a vegetable patch, wildflower meadow, and disability-friendly play equipment for children in North London's Haringey borough.
An outdoor space in Stockport for patients with long-term health conditions, dementia, or mobility issues.
In addition, funding has been allocated to a project in Cornwall to create a new woodland space featuring yurts, a kitchen, an amphitheater, allotments, and outdoor plunge pools for nature-based well-being groups.
Bristol will see the development of a garden to aid in nature-based rehabilitation for patients recovering from injuries. Meanwhile, eight sites in Lanarkshire will engage patients and community members in food growing and gardening activities.
The final two projects to receive funding in the second year of the Fund include:
The revitalization of a hospital courtyard in Leeds will provide a safe space for patients and staff to reconnect with nature and engage in horticultural therapy.
The development of wildlife habitats in Greenwich, South London, aims to increase biodiversity and offer a space for therapy and well-being activities.
This initiative follows recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicating that one million fewer people are reaping the health benefits of nature compared to 2020. Despite substantial evidence supporting Green Social Prescribing—which promotes nature-based interventions to enhance physical and mental health—the trend is concerning.
Research commissioned by the Greener Communities Fund reveals that 80% of Brits feel healthier and more energetic after spending time in nature, with 70% reporting improved mental and physical health, including better sleep, reduced stress, and enhanced mood.
"We know that there is a strong link between green spaces and improved health and well-being, but unfortunately, there remains significant inequality in access to these spaces," said Ellie Orton, chief executive at NHS Charities Together. "We're delighted to be partnering with Hubbub and Starbucks for a second year to continue to help remove barriers to nature and build on the incredible successes of the projects we've supported to date."
A recent report highlighted the benefits of Green Social Prescribing, estimating that the NHS could save £625 million annually by encouraging patients to spend time in nature. Orton emphasized that one of the primary objectives of the Greener Communities Fund is to enhance the nation's health and alleviate the burden on the already stretched NHS services. "We look forward to working with local NHS charities to bring to life their visions and see first-hand the significant impact that these amazing spaces will have on staff, patients and local communities alike," she said.
The Greener Communities Fund claims to have benefited over 52,000 people since its first round of funding in 2023, with nine charity initiatives already in progress. Notable projects include transforming 10,000 square meters of unused outdoor space into a woodland area and sensory garden for young people facing mental health crises in Birmingham and establishing weekly community gardening sessions in Cardiff.
Gavin Ellis, director and co-founder at Hubbub, added that initiatives harnessing the enormous potential of Green Social Prescribing have never been more crucial. "Improving access to green spaces not only hugely benefits people's mental and physical health but also increases biodiversity and builds our sense of connectedness with the natural world," he said.
"Studies have also shown that spending time in nature makes people more likely to make more environmentally friendly lifestyle choices, as well as helping to lower their stress levels, reduce anxiety and combat loneliness."
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