This project explores how people find their way to green social prescribing initiatives, how they navigate these systems, and asks: what helps, what gets in the way, and how might these initiatives be improved?

Green social prescribing is a way of supporting people’s mental and physical health by connecting them with nature-based activities, like walking groups or gardening sessions.

The research team is carrying out a rapid systematic review of existing qualitative studies that explore people’s experiences of these initiatives, identifying factors that can influence success through synthesising their findings.

By looking at the experiences of healthcare professionals, link workers, activity providers, and participants, the team aims to understand what makes green social prescribing feel relevant and effective, and what motivates providers to offer these kinds of activities.

The project runs from July to December 2025 and is funded by the UK Government’s Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). It is designed to deliver timely insights for policy and practice, reporting by 30th December 2025.

Ultimately, this work aims to help make green social prescribing more effective and inclusive for everyone – helping more people access meaningful, nature-based support for their health and wellbeing.

The project team is based at both the European Centre for Environment and Human Health (Harriet Hunt, Ruth Garside, Becca Lovell) and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula at the University of Plymouth (Kerryn Husk).