London's Dose of Nature Outperforms NHS Therapies with Innovative Green Prescriptions
A groundbreaking project in London is providing a genuine alternative to traditional mental health treatments, helping hundreds of people through the power of nature. Dose of Nature, a charity founded by former NHS psychologist Alison Greenwood, has already delivered 1,500 one-to-one courses and is significantly outperforming standard NHS talking therapies.
The charity boasts an impressive recovery rate of 64%, compared to the NHS's 50%, and a reliable improvement rate of 86% versus 69%. Unlike most green social prescribing schemes, clients are referred directly by their GPs, making it a mainstream option in mental health care. "Our nature prescriptions are a genuine alternative to medication and more traditional psychological therapies," Greenwood emphasizes.
Rediscovering Ancient Wisdom for Modern Mental Health
The key to Dose of Nature's success lies in reconnecting with something very old. "The idea that nature is good for our mental health and wellbeing has been around for millennia," Greenwood explains. "We evolved outside, under the sky, and now we are animals that are caged most of our time in schools, cars, offices, or homes. As soon as we get outside, we're free." She notes that forgetting this connection is a recent and unfortunate blip in human history.
The prescription involves two key parts: helping people get outside and, once there, encouraging them to notice nature to calm their minds and bodies. Greenwood stresses that it doesn't require a hike through beautiful countryside; sitting on a local park bench can be just as effective.
Transformative Impact on Clients' Lives
For many, the effect has been profound. Tom Krumins, a softly spoken man who arrived as a client three years ago and now works as an operations assistant for Dose of Nature, says, "It has changed my life." Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his early 20s, he endured turbulent cycles of highs and lows, including several hospital stays. "But every single time I'd have a session with my guide, I'd come away feeling so much better," he recalls.
Krumins describes sessions that included riverside walks, focusing on slowing down and admiring details like the way light hits the water. He notes that bipolar disorder can feel like a life sentence, but he hasn't had an episode of mania for three years. "I have never felt more enabled and more optimistic about the future," he adds.
Science-Backed Benefits of Nature Exposure
Explaining the science behind the benefits is a core part of the Dose of Nature approach. The fundamental theory is that as we evolved in nature, it soothes by providing a natural and relaxing focus for our attention, switching away from the stresses of the artificial world.
Specific benefits include:
- Sun exposure boosts serotonin levels.
- Phytoncides from trees and plants can decrease stress hormones and improve immune function.
- Natural sounds like water, wind, and birdsong have been shown to improve mood.
- Fractal patterns in nature aid recovery from stress and boost alpha waves in the brain.
- Exposure to soil microorganisms can also enhance moods.
Sal, a client diagnosed with a life-limiting illness and made redundant from her banking job, found the science reassuring. "It was a real source of help to understand the science behind why nature is so positive for you – it's not flim-flam and it's not all lefty tree huggers," she says. She now has a daily routine of getting outside, noting that time seems to slow in nature.
How the Dose of Nature Programme Works
The course begins with a 90-minute assessment and discussion with a psychologist, prescribed by GPs. Clients are then paired with a trained volunteer guide for eight weekly one-to-one sessions, usually local to them or at Pensford Field in south-west London. The goal is to find the best way for each client to connect with nature.
After the course ends with another psychologist assessment, clients can join free Dose of Nature groups for as long as they like, including activities like walking, tennis, art, singing, and yoga – all conducted outside. Everything is free to clients and GP practices.
Volunteer guide Emily May Alford, who joined while training as a psychotherapist, says, "I did expect people to be sceptical, but people naturally notice that they feel good in nature, although they might not understand why." She adds that unlike traditional therapy, clients are left with nature and ongoing group support.
Cost-Effective and Clinically Proven
An independent assessment by researchers from the London School of Economics confirms the programme's effectiveness. Following 375 people over two-and-a-half years in a randomised controlled trial, they found "clinically meaningful benefits" and concluded that Dose of Nature prescriptions treat mental illness. Increased nature exposure and social connection were key factors, with social welfare benefits estimated to be worth eight times the cost.
Dr. Faisal Islam, a GP at Cross Deep Surgery in Twickenham, is among the many doctors referring patients. He has seen real improvements in symptoms and reduced contact with the practice. "Some of our more complex patients, who had been sort of 'written off', felt they were getting a new chance," he says. With long waiting lists for NHS talking therapies like CBT, Dose of Nature offers a timely alternative. "I honestly think it will save lives and improve patients' mental health," Islam adds.
Expanding Reach and Future Plans
Dose of Nature started in 2019 and now has 11 staff, funded by the NHS, local authorities, and charitable foundations. While based in the wealthy borough of Richmond, it serves a diverse range of people, including those on lower incomes. "We do have a lot of people who are on lower incomes and from diverse communities, more so than other services," says clinical lead Georgina Gould.
The charity has expanded with a hub in North Guildford and plans for projects in Hounslow and potentially Lincolnshire. Greenwood aims to prove the approach's effectiveness in different settings and help other groups provide nature prescriptions. "We'd love to spread it to as many people as possible," she says. "This is for everybody. You don't need to make an appointment with nature."
