Green social prescribing

Being outside in nature benefits your mental and physical wellbeing. Find out about the different ways you can benefit from being outside and noticing nature.

What is green social prescribing?

Green Social Prescribing (GSP) is ‘the practice of supporting people to engage in nature-based interventions and activities to improve their mental and physical health’ (NHS, 2026). This could include being referred by a health practitioner, such as your GP or a Social Prescribing Link worker if you have a defined need, but it can also involve self-referral. Self-referral can be something as simple as going for a walk outdoors to improve your mental and physical health, or it could involve signing up to a defined pathway of intervention, typically weekly sessions with a qualified practitioner.

There are 3 levels of GSP:

  • Engaging with nature - for everyone (GSP which is green but not by design - just so happens to be green, proactive)
  • Nature-based health promotion initiatives (GSP which is universal and open to everyone that uses nature as the intervention, preventative)
  • Defined need (social care, struggling with mental and physical health) - nature based interventions (GSP for people with diagnosed health condition, reactive)

We are fortunate to live in an area with extraordinary green and blue spaces, but people may not take advantage of what’s on their doorstep because they don’t know what’s available. 

What are the benefits of green social prescribing?

The Natural England People and Nature Survey for England for 2023/24: 

  • 92% of adults agreed that spending time outdoors was good for their physical health 
  • 89% of adults agreed that spending time outdoors was good for their mental health.
  • 84% of adults agreed that being in nature makes them very happy.

Key benefits include:

  • Improved mental health and wellbeing, helping to reduce stress, anxiety, and low mood. 
  • Better physical health through increased activity and time spent outdoors. 
  • Reduced loneliness and social isolation by connecting people with community groups and shared activities. 
  • Increased sense of purpose, confidence, and belonging through meaningful engagement with nature and local communities. 
  • Potential to reduce demand on health and care services by supporting prevention and early intervention. 

Overall, green social prescribing provides a non-clinical, person-centred way to improve health, wellbeing, and social connection through engagement with nature.

How to self-refer to green social prescribing in Westmorland and Furness

The following partners offer activities and support across Westmorland and Furness:

Where to take part in nature-based activities

Cumbria area

  • Ramblers Wellbeing Walks provides guided group walks that support physical activity, social connection, and improved wellbeing through access to nature. 
  • Raise Cumbria Community Forest offers tree-planting opportunities, including neurodivergent-friendly activities, promoting wellbeing through environmental action and outdoor engagement. 
  • Futureproof Cumbria provides a range of environmental volunteering opportunities that connect people with nature while supporting community wellbeing and climate action. 
  • Cumbria Connect: Restoring Nature engages communities in citizen science and conservation activities such as litter picking, helping people build connections with nature and their local environment. 

Eden area

  • Growing Well (Tebay site) supports mental health and wellbeing through therapeutic gardening, food growing, and social connection in a natural setting. 
  • Cumbria Wildlife Trust offers nature-based volunteering and wellbeing programmes that encourage physical activity, social interaction, and engagement with local wildlife. 

Furness area

  • Travel Actively Barrow provides guided bike rides and wildlife-focused activities such as bat walks that encourage active travel and outdoor wellbeing. 
  • Woodland Wellbeing at Leslands Farm facilitates gardening, nature-based crafts and environmental projects that support wellbeing through meaningful outdoor activity. 
  • The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery engages volunteers in marine surveys and coastal clean-up activities, combining environmental stewardship with health and wellbeing benefits. 
  • Art Gene delivers creative, community-focused environmental projects including growing spaces, creative walks and litter picks that promote social connection and wellbeing through nature. 
  • Growing Well (Kendal catchment serving Furness) provides therapeutic horticulture and supported volunteering opportunities that improve mental health and confidence through gardening. 
  • Cumbria Wildlife Trust offers practical conservation volunteering and nature wellbeing programmes across the Furness area. 

South Lakeland area

  • Growing Well (Kendal) uses gardening and food-growing activities to support recovery, wellbeing, and social inclusion in a supportive outdoor environment. 
  • Mana House Allotment provides allotment-based activities that support wellbeing, life skills and social inclusion, particularly for people at risk of homelessness. 
  • U3A Walking Groups offers a range of walking opportunities that promote physical health, social interaction and access to green spaces for older adults. 
  • South Cumbria Rivers Trust provides practical conservation volunteering, including invasive species management, helping participants connect with local landscapes and improve wellbeing. 
  • Nature Makers South Cumbria delivers nature-inspired arts, crafts and mindful activities that support wellbeing and encourage engagement with the natural environment. 
  • Cumbria Wildlife Trust runs nature and wellbeing programmes alongside conservation volunteering opportunities across South Lakeland.