In just 12 weeks, nature-based activities like gardening, care farming, and mindfulness in the fresh air significantly boosted the mental health of over 200 participants in England.

These community-rooted programs, part of a national test in green social prescribing, delivered improvements on par with traditional therapy, especially when people actively engaged with nature and did so with others.

Nature-Based Activities Show Fast Mental Health Benefits

Researchers have found that nature-based activities can improve mood and reduce anxiety in people with mild to moderate mental health conditions, in as little as 12 weeks.

The findings come from a UK government-backed initiative aimed at improving mental health care through “green social prescribing.” Seven pilot sites were set up across England, including one in Humber and North Yorkshire—the first to publish results from the national program.

Green social prescribing involves healthcare professionals referring patients to nature-based community activities – such as gardening, walking groups, or outdoor mindfulness sessions – as a way to support mental health alongside traditional treatments. While still in the testing phase, early results suggest these program could become a valuable addition to mental health services across the country.

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