Natural England

Natural England will be handing out “Green Prescriptions” this Sunday promoting the health benefits of the great outdoors at Derby’s Springwatch event in Osmaston Park.

The Natural England campaign prescribes outdoors activity to boost people's mental and physical health. The Green Prescriptions drive will involve setting up links between GPs and health bodies and their countryside, environment and leisure counterparts. The aim is to refer people for outdoors and countryside activities, events and walks to boost their health and help in recovery from illness.

There is mounting medical evidence showing that contact with the natural environment improves mental and physical health. At the same time fewer people are visiting the countryside, making urban gardens and green spaces all the more important. Being more active and having more contact with the outdoors reduces stress and can prevent and reduce depression and anxiety. It has also been proven that doing physical activity reduces the risk of up to 20 chronic diseases and disorders including obesity, heart disease, type two diabetes and certain cancers.

One group of Derby residents who endorse Natural England’s prescription for health is the Derwent Trekkers. The group convenes weekly at the city’s Derwent Revive Healthy Living Centre for a two mile walk, taking in urban green spaces or nearby wildlife parks such as Attenborough Nature Reserve and Elvaston Castle. Walkers range in age from teenage to over 80. Trained guides from the local community lead the walks which are flat to accommodate less mobile people.

Jenny Birtles of the Revive Centre said: “The health benefits are holistic – physical, emotional and spiritual. The programme provides cardiovascular activity, gets people out into the fresh air and builds up social networking.”

Dr William Bird, Natural England’s Green Doctor, said “The prescription of expensive anti-depressant drugs is on the rise, while many of our urban parks, green space – gardens and community greens – are under threat. Natural England is working to ensure that high-quality green space is available for everyone to enjoy”.

Suggested activities include:

• Spending just 15 mins of your day relaxing in green space will help gather your thoughts and will restore your concentration level
• If you don’t have a garden, plant a window box; seeing greenery improves your mood and sense of well-being.
• Enjoy a brisk walk 10 mins every morning and evening as part of your daily routine. This will energise your heart and lungs and immune system.
• At the weekend, take your family or friends on a picnic to your nearest green space: try your local Country Park or nature reserve.
• At work try to get out for a walk and eat your lunch in a park or garden (when the weather allows!)
• At least 3 times a week go for a brisk walk or a jog, preferably in green surroundings; it will make a great difference to your general health and energise your lungs and immune system.
• The outdoors has great health benefits to children, get them away from the television and into green space. Children love exploring in a woodland or forest. This can improve their development, co-ordination and can improve their behaviour!
• Why not Join a local walking group, visit our website at www.naturalengland.org.uk/campaigns/breathingplaces for information about hundreds of walking groups across the country….. a great way to make friends and get healthy too.
• For ideas about where you can find green space and ways to enjoy it visit our website at www.naturalengland.org.uk/campaigns/breathingplaces
• For details of the Derwent Trekkers walks programme, see www.whi.org.uk

If you are unsure, always consult a doctor.

Editors Notes

Natural England was established by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. Its purpose is to ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development.

Natural England has been formed by bringing together English Nature, the landscape, access and recreation elements of the Countryside Agency and the environmental land management functions of the Rural Development Service.

Natural England has a budget of £500 million and employs 2,500 people.

Natural England’s headquarters are based in Sheffield.

Spokespeople, photography and logos available. For further information, contact Clare Stevens at GNN East Midlands on 0115 971 2785. Natural England, Block 7, Chalfont Drive, Nottingham NG8 3SN.