IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i17p6708-d1232250.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Green Social Prescribing in Practice: A Case Study of Walsall, UK

Author

Listed:
  • Qian Sun

    (School of Design, Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU, UK)

  • Mary Loveday

    (School of Design, Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU, UK)

  • Saw Nwe

    (School of Design, Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU, UK)

  • Nike Morris

    (School of Design, Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU, UK)

  • Emily Boxall

    (School of Design, Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU, UK)

Abstract

This paper presents a case study of Green Social Prescribing (GSP) in Walsall, a medium-sized urban area located in the West Midlands, UK. GSP is a means of enabling health professionals to refer people to a range of local non-clinical nature-based activities, e.g., community gardening and conservation volunteering. As a new practice to address multiple challenges in health and sustainability, GSP has been promoted by the UK government and the NHS in the past few years. There is as yet limited evidence and knowledge about how this approach is implemented at a local level. This paper addresses this gap of knowledge, by exploring how GSP is implemented in Walsall as a case study. Based on extensive engagement and research activities with the local partners to collect data, this paper reveals the local contexts of GSP, the referral pathways, and people’s lived experience, discussing the challenges, barriers, and opportunities in delivering GSP at the local level. This study suggests that a more collaborative and genuine place-based approach is essential, and alongside GSP, investment into infrastructure is needed to move the health paradigm further from ‘prevention’ to ‘promotion’ so that more people can benefit from what nature can offer.

Suggested Citation

  • Qian Sun & Mary Loveday & Saw Nwe & Nike Morris & Emily Boxall, 2023. "Green Social Prescribing in Practice: A Case Study of Walsall, UK," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(17), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:17:p:6708-:d:1232250
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/17/6708/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/17/6708/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Carly J. Wood & Marie Polley & Jo L. Barton & Claire L. Wicks, 2022. "Therapeutic Community Gardening as a Green Social Prescription for Mental Ill-Health: Impact, Barriers, and Facilitators from the Perspective of Multiple Stakeholders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    2. Jake M. Robinson & Paul Brindley & Ross Cameron & Danielle MacCarthy & Anna Jorgensen, 2021. "Nature’s Role in Supporting Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Geospatial and Socioecological Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-21, February.
    3. Dankwa-Mullan, I. & Ṕerez-Stable, E.J., 2016. "Addressing health disparities is a place-based issue," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(4), pages 637-639.
    4. Viniece Jennings & Omoshalewa Bamkole, 2019. "The Relationship between Social Cohesion and Urban Green Space: An Avenue for Health Promotion," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-14, February.
    5. Marcia P. Jimenez & Nicole V. DeVille & Elise G. Elliott & Jessica E. Schiff & Grete E. Wilt & Jaime E. Hart & Peter James, 2021. "Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-19, April.
    6. María del Carmen Redondo Bermúdez & Juan Miguel Kanai & Janice Astbury & Verónica Fabio & Anna Jorgensen, 2022. "Green Fences for Buenos Aires: Implementing Green Infrastructure for (More than) Air Quality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-23, March.
    7. Deely, John & Hynes, Stephen & Barquín, José & Burgess, Diane & Finney, Graham & Silió, Ana & Álvarez-Martínez, Jose Manuel & Bailly, Denis & Ballé-Béganton, Johanna, 2020. "Barrier identification framework for the implementation of blue and green infrastructures," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    8. Miles Richardson & Anne Hunt & Joe Hinds & Rachel Bragg & Dean Fido & Dominic Petronzi & Lea Barbett & Theodore Clitherow & Matthew White, 2019. "A Measure of Nature Connectedness for Children and Adults: Validation, Performance, and Insights," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-16, June.
    9. Jake M. Robinson & Anna Jorgensen & Ross Cameron & Paul Brindley, 2020. "Let Nature Be Thy Medicine: A Socioecological Exploration of Green Prescribing in the UK," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-24, May.
    10. Humphries, Richard, 2015. "Integrated health and social care in England – Progress and prospects," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(7), pages 856-859.
    11. Anastasia Baka & Leslie Mabon, 2022. "Assessing equality in neighbourhood availability of quality greenspace in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom," Landscape Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(5), pages 584-597, July.
    12. Siobhan McQuaid & Esmee D. Kooijman & Mary-Lee Rhodes & Sheila M. Cannon, 2021. "Innovating with Nature: Factors Influencing the Success of Nature-Based Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-25, November.
    13. Yichao He & Anna Jorgensen & Qian Sun & Amy Corcoran & Maria Jesus Alfaro-Simmonds, 2022. "Negotiating Complexity: Challenges to Implementing Community-Led Nature-Based Solutions in England Pre- and Post-COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-19, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yichao He & Anna Jorgensen & Qian Sun & Amy Corcoran & Maria Jesus Alfaro-Simmonds, 2022. "Negotiating Complexity: Challenges to Implementing Community-Led Nature-Based Solutions in England Pre- and Post-COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Andreia Teixeira & Ronaldo Gabriel & José Martinho & Graça Pinto & Luís Quaresma & Aurélio Faria & Irene Oliveira & Helena Moreira, 2021. "Connectedness to Nature Does Not Explain the Variation in Physical Activity and Body Composition in Adults and Older People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-20, November.
    3. Shirelle H. Hallum & Marilyn E. Wende & Farnaz Hesam Shariati & Kelsey M. Thomas & Anna L. Chupak & Eleanor Witherspoon & Andrew T. Kaczynski, 2024. "Unearthing Inequities in the Relationship between Multiple Sociodemographic Factors and Diverse Elements of Park Availability and Quality in a Major Southern Metropolitan Region," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1-19, February.
    4. Ahmed Tarek Zaky Fouad & Danielle Sinnett & Isabelle Bray & Rachael McClatchey & Rebecca Reece, 2023. "Measures of Greenspace Exposure and Their Association to Health-Related Outcomes for the Periods before and during the 2020 Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Study in the West of England," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-18, March.
    5. John Zelenski & Sara Warber & Jake M. Robinson & Alan C. Logan & Susan L. Prescott, 2023. "Nature Connection: Providing a Pathway from Personal to Planetary Health," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-23, March.
    6. Shi Chen & Yi Sun & Bo Kyong Seo, 2022. "The Effects of Public Open Space on Older People’s Well-Being: From Neighborhood Social Cohesion to Place Dependence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-16, December.
    7. Kornelia Przestrzelska & Katarzyna Wartalska & Weronika Rosińska & Jakub Jurasz & Bartosz Kaźmierczak, 2024. "Climate Resilient Cities: A Review of Blue-Green Solutions Worldwide," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 38(15), pages 5885-5910, December.
    8. Amber L. Pearson & Victoria Breeze & Aaron Reuben & Gwen Wyatt, 2021. "Increased Use of Porch or Backyard Nature during COVID-19 Associated with Lower Stress and Better Symptom Experience among Breast Cancer Patients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-13, August.
    9. Moss, Charlie & Anselmi, Laura & Morciano, Marcello & Munford, Luke & Stokes, Jonathan & Sutton, Matt, 2023. "Analysing changes to the flow of public funding within local health and care systems: An adaptation of the System of Health Accounts framework to a local health system in England," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    10. Chen Zhang & Nan Zhang & Peijuan Zhu & Shuqian Qin & Yong Zhang, 2024. "The Evolution and Driving Mechanisms of the Blue-Green Space Publicness Pattern in Changsha, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, March.
    11. Mare Lõhmus & Cecilia U. D. Stenfors & Tomas Lind & André Lauber & Antonios Georgelis, 2021. "Mental Health, Greenness, and Nature Related Behaviors in the Adult Population of Stockholm County during COVID-19-Related Restrictions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-21, March.
    12. Na’Taki Osborne Jelks & Viniece Jennings & Alessandro Rigolon, 2021. "Green Gentrification and Health: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-23, January.
    13. Adriano Bressane & Mirela Beatriz Silva & Ana Paula Garcia Goulart & Líliam César de Castro Medeiros, 2024. "Understanding How Green Space Naturalness Impacts Public Well-Being: Prospects for Designing Healthier Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(5), pages 1-11, May.
    14. Kamila Czepczor-Bernat & Justyna Modrzejewska & Adriana Modrzejewska & Viren Swami, 2022. "The Impact of a Woodland Walk on Body Image: A Field Experiment and an Assessment of Dispositional and Environmental Determinants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-13, November.
    15. Paola Piazza & Nadia Ursino, 2023. "On the Reason to Implement a Sustainable Urban Drainage Nature-Based Solution to Decrease Flood Threat: A Survey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-13, June.
    16. Xiangyou Shen & Megan MacDonald & Samuel W. Logan & Colby Parkinson & Lydia Gorrell & Bridget E. Hatfield, 2022. "Leisure Engagement during COVID-19 and Its Association with Mental Health and Wellbeing in U.S. Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-22, January.
    17. Holli-Anne Passmore & Ashley N. Krause, 2023. "The Beyond-Human Natural World: Providing Meaning and Making Meaning," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-14, June.
    18. Michelle C. Kondo & Erica Felker-Kantor & Kimberly Wu & Jeanette Gustat & Christopher N. Morrison & Lisa Richardson & Charles C. Branas & Katherine P. Theall, 2022. "Stress and Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Neighborhood Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-12, February.
    19. Juuli-Mari Kokkonen & Henna Vepsäläinen & Anna Abdollahi & Hanna Paasio & Samuli Ranta & Maijaliisa Erkkola & Eva Roos & Carola Ray, 2021. "Associations between Parent–Child Nature Visits and Sleep, Physical Activity and Weight Status among Finnish 3–6-Year-Olds," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-11, November.
    20. Nicole V. DeVille & Linda Powers Tomasso & Olivia P. Stoddard & Grete E. Wilt & Teresa H. Horton & Kathleen L. Wolf & Eric Brymer & Peter H. Kahn & Peter James, 2021. "Time Spent in Nature Is Associated with Increased Pro-Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-18, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:17:p:6708-:d:1232250. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.