England's Green Social Prescribing 'Test and Learn' Programme — National Evidence from Seven NHS Sites

Between 2020 and 2023, NHS England, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Natural England, Sport England and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities jointly funded a £5.77 million 'Test and Learn' green social prescribing pilot across seven Integrated Care System areas: Humber Coast and Vale, South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Surrey Heartlands, and Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. GPs and other services referred patients with mental-health needs to nature-based activities such as walking groups, conservation volunteering and community gardening.
An independent national evaluation led by the Universities of Exeter, Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam and Plymouth, published in September 2024, tracked 8,339 participants and found statistically significant improvements across the ONS4 wellbeing measures, including reduced anxiety. 21% of participants were from ethnic-minority backgrounds and 57% from the most deprived areas (IMD deciles 1-3), indicating the programme reached groups underserved by conventional care. The evaluation put the average cost per participant at £507 and estimated £14.0 million in social value (WELLBYs) - a return of £1.88 per £1 invested.
The evaluation covers only the first, time-limited pilot phase; a second phase, backed by a further £2.8 million, ran to March 2025 with results expected later, so long-term sustainability beyond pilot funding remains unproven.

Read the full analysis: https://www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/social-prescribing/green-social-prescribing/