Green Social Prescribing: Why “Prescribing Nature” Is More Than a Nice Idea

When most people think of a prescription, they picture a pill bottle, not a garden bed, woodland trail, or community allotment. Green social prescribing turns that assumption on its head by connecting people to nature-based social activities as part of mainstream health care. Instead of treating symptoms solely with medication, clinicians can refer individuals to gardening groups, conservation projects, and programs like City Grown Gardens as recognized mental- and physical-health interventions.

So what is green social prescribing, you may ask.  Well, Green social prescribing refers to a system where health professionals, including GPs, nurses, and mental-health practitioners, direct people toward nature-based activities coordinated through social prescribing link workers. These link workers help individuals determine “what matters to you,” then match them with opportunities in their own communities, such as neighborhood gardens, nature walks, care farms, forest schools, or environmental restoration groups (NHS England, n.d.). Rather than functioning as an optional “add-on,” green social prescribing is increasingly viewed as a structured means of improving mental well-being, strengthening social connection, reducing loneliness, easing pressure on clinical services, and building resilient community-based support networks. These benefits are well documented across practice reports and research studies examining the interaction between nature engagement and psychological health (NHS England, n.d.; Frost et al., 2023).

The UK Government’s £5.77 Million Investment

Okay, I know you see a lot of stats in this section, but stay with me.

The UK’s project, formally titled “Preventing and Tackling Mental Ill Health Through Green Social Prescribing,” was launched as a cross-government collaboration funded through HM Treasury’s Shared Outcomes Fund, with additional support from NHS England, Sport England, and the National Academy for Social Prescribing (Haywood et al., 2024). Seven “test and learn” sites across England participated, with each location housing disadvantaged populations dealing with significant mental-health needs and socioeconomic disadvantage. The national evaluation led by researchers from the Universities of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam, Exeter, and Plymouth found that 8,339 people with mental-health needs received support through green social prescribing activities (Haywood et al., 2024). Notably, 57% of participants lived in the most socioeconomically deprived areas, and 21% identified as members of ethnic-minority communities, demonstrating the program’s wide reach into communities that traditionally face barriers to care. Participants reported significant improvements in happiness, life satisfaction, feelings of life being worthwhile, and reduced anxiety, based on the ONS4 well-being indicators and, in some cases, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Economically, the program yielded a strong return. The evaluation estimated a social return on investment (SROI) of approximately £2.42 for every £1 invested by the Shared Outcomes Fund and national partners, and £1.88 per £1 when accounting for resources leveraged from additional sources (Haywood et al., 2024). These findings underscore that nature-based interventions are not simply pleasant experiences but are measurable contributors to both individual well-being and wider economic efficiencies.

So, what does this have to do with City Grown Gardens?

 Not only is this interesting stuff (I know you are on the edge of your seat by now), but it also relates to CGG because it aligns strongly with the mission and structure of its programs. Unlike traditional community-garden models, CGG focuses on installing free, individualized vegetable gardens directly on the residential properties of Baltimore residents, including seniors, families, individuals managing chronic stress, and people with limited access to nature or nutritious foods. The program is intentionally designed so that Baltimore residents can volunteer with garden installations, plant propagation, and soil preparation. These volunteers gain many of the same wellness benefits described in the exciting green social prescribing research you read just before your nap. This gentle physical activity, time with nature, a sense of purpose, and positive social interaction while working alongside others toward a goal all come together to foster positive mental health outcomes.

By partnering with mental-health providers and care coordinators, volunteers can be referred to these opportunities. For some individuals, receiving a home garden may be the best fit; for others, joining the volunteer team and helping install gardens for other people in need may provide a meaningful path to nature, social connection, accomplishment, and restored well-being. CGG aims to position home-based vegetable gardens and hands-on service as feasible, equitable options to grow green social prescribing strategies across Baltimore. This model brings nature’s therapeutic benefits directly to people’s doorsteps, while also creating structured ways for community members to support one another and experience the healing power of shared work in the soil.