Green Exercise Partnership

Green Exercise Partnership formed 2 years ago:

Who are we? NHS Health Scotland, Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage.

Aim: ‘Greater use of the outdoors to promote better health and quality of life for people in Scotland’

Background:

• Evidence around health and outdoor environment was building

• Outdoors offers a great asset for improving health

• Much more could be done to realise this potential

• Group formed at same time as National Performance Framework and Single Outcome Agreements this helped shape our thinking.

Equally well report of the Ministerial Task Force onHealth Inequalities 2008:

Key points: “Physical environments have an impacton people’s mental and physical health and wellbeing”

Recommendation 29: the Government, NHS Boards should take specific steps to encourage the use and enjoyment of green space by all, with a view to improving health.

...they should encourage and increase the prescription of “greenspace use” by GPs and clinical practitioners.

Policy context

Achievements so far

• Green Exercise Conference October 2007

•Joint statement of intent and purpose launched at Royal Highland Show in 2009 by Environment Minister

• Developing a common language and better understanding between the two sectors

• Raising the profile of this work at key conference and seminars

Next Steps

• Exploring approaches to evidence base and how to use it to inform policy and practice on the ground

• Developing a more co-ordinated approach to funding for key initiatives like Paths For All, Green Gym, Green prescription and Commonhealth program

• Developed a key set of messages about health and the outdoors

• Sharing good practice events and greening hospital estate

Take the Green pill?

What is Green ExercisePractical conservation? Sport & Recreation?

Walking & relaxation? Rehabilitation in woodland?

Approaches

• Branching Out• Natural Play• Paths to Health• Green Gym

Case Studies

• Blarbuie Woods• Bridgend Allotment

Branching OutConservation and Greenspace on referral

• Physical Activity

• Conservation

• Bushcraft

• Environmental art

• Relaxation

• John Muir Award

• choose

• Focus on natural environment• Less play structures• More robust in urban settings

Greater play value

• Social interaction• Constructive play• Health benefits

Natural Play

Health Walks• Volunteer led walk schemes

established to improve physical health

• Research shows physical and mental health benefits – and also social and community benefits

• National programme established by PFAP – the ‘Paths to Health’ Initiative

‘I am physically fitter than I have ever been, I'm losing weight regularly and my self-esteem has improved enormously. I now have a structure to my day, I feel as though I count as a person and I am making a contribution to my own community.

Green gyms• Aims to improve physical and

mental health and improve local green spaces

• Research shows regular participation has physical and mental health benefits

• National programme established by BTCV

• Training and support now available to enable groups to run their own ‘community’ green gym

“The Green gym’s great. I get at least one day’s exercise a week. The company is really good and everyone mucks

in together”.

Blarbuie woodland• Aims to restore and enhance

this woodland for environmental, community and health benefits

• Woodland now used on a daily basis by patients, hospital staff, and local residents of all ages and abilities

“Cutting down old trees, designing the paths, the activities made me feel great and needed. It had a great effect on my sense of well-being. I experienced peace and loved learning new things .... I really loved being in this environment and would recommend it for others.”

Bridgend Allotments• Community organic

gardening project which aims to tackle chronic health problems arising from poverty and social isolation

• Focus is on pro-active health promotion, rather than reactive treatment of illness

“Bridgend has been a really positive experience. My doctor says I’m much stronger ... thought I’m ready to come off the anti-depressants.”