The Humber and North Yorkshire Green Social Prescribing Programme Cohort Evaluation

There is a strong body of evidence that points to the mental health and wellbeing benefits of nature alongside a growing evidence base on the health and wellbeing benefits of green social prescribing (GSP). Central to the UK government’s commitment to transform mental health services, increase social prescribing (SP), and deliver personalised care, seven successful ‘test and learn’ GSP sites were identified across England, including the Humber and North Yorkshire (HNY) GSP programme. The aim of the ‘test and learn’ sites was to embed GSP into communities to improve mental health outcomes, reduce health inequalities, reduce demand on the health and social care system, and develop best practice in making green social activities more resilient and accessible. This report summarises the findings of the cohort evaluation, a key component of the HNY GSP programme, and reports on the mental health and wellbeing outcomes of participants who took part in nature-based activities linked to the GSP initiative. It discusses the findings in relation to the wider literature, key challenges identified by referring services involved in the cohort evaluation, alongside clinical implications, and future research opportunities in the area of GSP.