Over the next five months, GPs at five practices in Edinburgh will be able to prescribe nature to patients as part of their treatment, thanks to an innovative project designed by RSPB Scotland, in collaboration with NHS Lothian’s official charity partner, the Edinburgh and Lothian’s Health Foundation, and local GPs.
The five practices: East Craigs Medical Centre, Leith Mount Surgery, Inchpark Surgery, St Triduana’s Medical Practice and Mill Lane Surgery, are participating in a five-month trial of Nature Prescriptions, an initiative inspired by growing evidence that connecting with nature makes us healthier and happier.
RSPB Scotland has produced a leaflet and a calendar of ideas specific to Edinburgh that will help patients connect with nature in a variety of ways. These will be provided, where needed, alongside regular prescriptions by their GP.
It is believed that individuals will benefit because connecting with nature can improve physical and mental wellbeing, and nature will benefit because when people connect with nature they are often inspired to protect it.
Scottish Conservative MSP for Lothian, Jeremy Balfour, has supported the initiative, saying:
“I welcome the trial of nature prescriptions in Edinburgh and the partnership between NHS Lothian, RSPB Scotland and the Edinburgh and Lothian’s Health Foundation.
“Evidence is clear that spending time outdoors every day is beneficial to both physical and mental health and I believe that encouragement from doctors to get outside will be beneficial to patients with varying health conditions.
“I look forward to hearing how this trial period goes in the five Edinburgh GP surgeries and I hope that, if successful, nature prescriptions will be introduced across the country.”
