Nature for health and wellbeing

Evidence shows that a thriving, wildlife-rich environment benefits both physical and mental health. People with nature on their doorstep are more active, mentally resilient and have better all-round health. Every day, we are working to bring wildlife to more people, and more people to wildlife. Get involved and make socialising, volunteering and exercise in natural places central to your daily life.

Daily contact with nature is linked to better health, reduced levels of chronic stress, reductions in obesity and improved concentration. The Wildlife Trusts are rooted in local communities and neighbourhoods, so we can help more people access local nature spots. Wildlife Trusts work in partnership with health and social care organisations, to increase their reach, and better help the people they work with.

• We run projects up and down the country helping people improve the health

• We look after nature reserves for people to visit and take exercise without knowing it

• We help businesses and their employees improve their health and wellbeing

• We continue to build the evidence that contact with wildlife is good for human health

The Wildlife Trusts run a huge range of activities. What unites them is that they help to improve people’s physical health and mental wellbeing. They are also great ways to mix with people from all backgrounds and ages. Find your closest Wildlife Trust below to find out about the wellbeing projects happening near you.

Gwent Wildlife Trust Wild Health Project

North Wales Wildlife Trust, River Wellbeing Project

In 2019, Leeds Beckett University undertook a Social Return on Investment analysis of Wildlife Trust programmes. They found that: Targeted programmes designed for people with a health or social need, showed a return of £6.88 for every £1 invested. This value was generated from health gains such as improved mental wellbeing. For those attending general volunteering programmes, the value was even higher with a return of £8.50 for every £1 invested. The research showed a range of benefits, such as increased feelings of positivity and levels of physical activity.

Prior to this, an evaluation of the health and wellbeing impacts of volunteering for 12 weeks with Wildlife Trusts found:

• 60% reported becoming more physically active;
• New volunteers trebled the number of days they were physically active;
• 83% improved their mental wellbeing.