The Unexpected Prescription for Health and Well-being

Actress and model Elizabeth Hurley, recently turning 60, credits gardening for her fitness, health, and youthful appearance. She finds it more enjoyable than the gym, dedicating up to five hours a day to it, often with friends and family. She admits to preferring gardening above all else.

Gardening is increasingly recognized as beneficial for middle-aged individuals facing health challenges, often stemming from lifestyle choices. A community garden in Gosport, Hampshire, transformed from a wasteland by volunteers and patients, exemplifies this. Many patients are "socially prescribed" gardening sessions to aid in weight loss, diabetes management, or mental health support.

One patient shared that gardening provides a positive distraction from boredom and unhealthy thoughts, while also burning calories. Medical experts believe gardening is crucial for both physical and mental well-being, potentially even life-saving. Research indicates that spending two hours weekly in nature is linked to improved health. Consequently, the NHS is increasingly prescribing time in nature and community gardening projects as part of "green prescriptions" to address anxiety, loneliness, and depression.

Green social prescribing involves supporting people to engage in nature-based activities to improve their mental and physical health. Social prescribing link workers connect individuals with community groups for practical and emotional support. These activities include walking schemes, community gardening, conservation volunteering, and outdoor arts. Evidence supports the role of nature-based social prescribing in improving mental and physical health and reducing loneliness.

The £5.77 million Green Social Prescribing Programme, launched in April 2021, supports the government's 25-year environment plan. In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, 90 social prescribers work in GP practices, utilizing local services to help individuals manage conditions like diabetes, anxiety, stress, or obesity. Social prescribers assist patients in accessing these resources. Primary care lead Ingrida Lelyte-Merrell has observed improvements in patients, including those who have reversed type two diabetes or reduced their need for medication. Addressing stress and loneliness can prevent the development of certain conditions.