There is a wealth of published evidence on the links between nature, health and wellbeing. Please find below key references under 6 headings relating to green care and nature-based therapies, together with links to the research and resources pages of member organisations
- Nature, health and wellbeing
Assessing the value of urban green and blue spaces for health and well-being – Taylor et al, 2023, Published by Word Health Organisation (WHO)
Nature and human well-being: a systematic review of empirical evidence from nature-based interventions – Silva et al, 2023 – Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, DOI:10.1080/09640568.2023.2227761
Links between natural environments and physical health: evidence briefing (EIN066) – Natural England, 2022 (Updated); Links between natural environments and physiological health: evidence briefing (EIN020) – Natural England, 2016
Increased Wellbeing following Engagement in a Group Nature-Based Programme: The Green Gym Programme Delivered by the Conservation Volunteers – Smyth et al, 2022 – Healthcare 2022, 10(6), 978; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10060978
Nature and Health Research Overview – SF&G and Thrive, 2021; Nature and Health – Useful research – SF&G and Thrive, 2021
Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence – Jimenez et al, 2021 – Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 May; 18(9): 4790.
Health and wellbeing benefits of care farming research overview – SF&G and Thrive, 2021; Health and wellbeing benefits of care farming – Useful research – SF&G and Thrive, 2021
What is the evidence for the impact of gardens and gardening on health and well-being: a scoping review and evidence-based logic model to guide healthcare strategy decision making on the use of gardening approaches as a social prescription – Howarth et al, 2020 – BMJ Open 2020;10:e036923. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-036923
Meta-analysis of controlled trials testing horticultural therapy for the improvement of cognitive function – Hung-Ming Tu & Pei-Yu Chiu, 2020 – Scientific Reports volume 10, Article number: 14637 (2020)
The health and wellbeing impacts of volunteering with The Wildlife Trusts – Rogerson et al, 2017 – The Wildlife Trusts and University of Essex
Gardening is beneficial for health: A meta-analysis – Soga et al, 2017
Preventive Medicine Reports Volume 5, March 2017, Pages 92-99
Gardens and health: implications for policy and practice – Buck, 2016, The Kings Fund [report commissioned by the National Gardens Scheme]
Links between natural environments and physical activity: evidence briefing (EIN019) – Natural England, 2016
Links between natural environments and obesity: evidence briefing (EIN021) – Natural England, 2016
Green Gym Evaluation Report 2016 – TCV, 2016
Wellbeing benefits from natural environments rich in wildlife – A literature review for The Wildlife Trusts:
By the University of Essex – Bragg et al, 2015
- Nature and mental health
Effect of horticultural therapy on mental health: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials – Hung-Ming Tu, 2022 – JPMHN.2022. 29(4):603-615
The effect of horticultural therapy on depressive symptoms among the elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis – Zhang et al, 2022 – Front Public Health. 2022 Aug 24:10:953363.
Links between natural environments and mental health: evidence briefing (EIN065) – Natural England, 2022 (Updated); Links between natural environments and mental health: evidence briefing (EIN018) – Natural England, 2016
Therapeutic Nature: Nature-based social prescribing for diagnosed mental health conditions in the UK – Garside et al, 2021, published by Defra
Good practice in social prescribing for mental health: The role of nature-based interventions – Bragg and Leck, 2017 Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 228
A Review of the nature-based intervention for mental health care – Bragg and Atkins, 2016. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 2014
Comparing Responses to Horticultural-Based and Traditional Activities in Dementia Care Programs – Jarrott et al, 2010 – American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias. 2010. 25(8) 657-665
Therapeutic horticulture in clinical depression: a prospective study – Gonzalez et al, 2009 – Res Theory Nurs Pract. 2009;23(4):312-28.
- Economics of Nature and Health
A Natural Health Service: Improving lives and saving money (Summary) – The Wildlife Trusts, 2023
The Wildlife Trusts’ Natural Health Services: A rapid economic assessment of The Wildlife Trusts’ Natural Health Services (Full technical report) – The Wildlife Trusts, 2023
Economic benefits of care farming and green care research overview – SF&G and Thrive, 2021; Economic benefits of care farming – Useful research – SF&G and Thrive, 2021;
- Green Social Prescribing
Green Social Prescribing – NHS England, 2023
Green social prescribing toolkit – NHS England, 2023
Social prescribing: the natural environment – Evidence briefing – National Academy for Social Prescribing 2022 Published by NASP
How the natural environment can support health and wellbeing through social prescribing – Mughal et al, 2022, Published by NASP
- Nature and young people
How the Natural Environment can support Children and Young People (EIN067) Natural England, 2022
Links between natural environments and learning: evidence briefing (EIN063) – Natural England, 2022 (updated); Links between natural environments and learning: evidence briefing (EIN017) – Natural England, 2016
How gardening at school can tackle child obesity – Matluba Khan, 2020 – The Conversation
Horticultural Therapy Program for the Improvement of Attention and Sociality in Children with Intellectual Disabilities – Bo-Young Kim et al, 2012 – HortTechnology, June 2012 22(3):320-324
- Connection to Nature
Connection to Nature: evidence briefing (EIN068) – Natural England, 2022 (Updated); Connection to Nature: evidence briefing (EIN015) – Natural England, 2016
Connection to Nature Research Overview – SF&G and Thrive, 2021; Connection to nature: useful research – SF&G and Thrive, 2021
Research pages of member organisations
The Sensory Trust – Inclusive nature experiences – Research page
Trellis – Gardening for wellbeing – Research pages
SF&G – Care farming and related research
NHS Forests – Evidence page
Norfolk Green Care Network – Research
Dementia Adventure – Resources and Research
People and Animals – Research
Garden Organic – The therapeutic properties of growing and gardening
Reading Green Wellbeing Network – Research
Other useful resources
What is personalised care? – NHS England, 2023
Methodology for Natural England evidence information notes EIN065, EIN066, EIN067 and EIN068 (EIN069) -Natural England 2022
International care farming research overview – SF&G and Thrive, 2021; International care farming – Useful research – SF&G and Thrive, 2021;
25 Year Environment Plan – Defra, 2018
Methods, Glossary and Evaluation Resources: evidence briefing (EIN016) – Natural England, 2016
Five ways to wellbeing: New applications, new ways of thinking – New Economics Foundation (NEF), 2011
Therapeutic Horticulture Stakeholder Group – Thrive and Natural England, 2022
Green Care Coalition 