Practitioners Information (main page)
Practitioners Information: Quick Links
Further reading, links and resources
Lothian Green Health Charity
Here you can find updates on activities and events across Lothian
Projects - Green Health, NHS Lothian Charity
The NHS GSP toolkit
The NHS GSP toolkit includes case studies and useful information on implementation of green social prescribing
A handbook for nature on prescription
The ‘Nature on prescription’ handbook offers a guide for prescribers, link workers to support people with mental health problems https://www.ecehh.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/A-Handbook-for-Nature-on-Prescription-to-Promote-Mental-Health_FINAL.pdf
National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP)
National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) offers advice and support on green social prescribing and wider social prescribing.
National Association of Link workers is the only professional body for all link workers across the UK, a membership organisation providing support and development for link workers. Explore here: Home - National Association of Link Workers (nalw.org.uk)
A local information System for Scotland (ALISS)
ALISS is funded by the Scottish Government and is part of the wider Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland. It includes information and a search tool to find many different nature-based activities across Scotland, such as the conservation volunteers: The Conservation Volunteers
Good conversation training
Having a conversation during a consultation about a new health intervention is often challenging. Here are some links for training in having a ‘good conversation’
Good conversations training — Thistle Foundation
Having Better Conversations in Challenging Situations – EC4H
Red Whale Course on Green Social Prescribing
An overview of GSP and suggestions for practising it in primary care. Red Whale requires you to create a free account to access this content.
Video (approx 26 minutes). You will need to create an account to watch this.
Text-based course. Publicly available. Includes a very useful section on how to incorporate GSP into a consultation.
Statements of Good Practice for nature-based activities
The institute for outdoor learning has produced ‘Statements of Good Practice’ documents that describe key principles, resources and expectations for professionals who provide outdoor therapy / interventions
Connect Here
Edinburgh Health and Social Care provide 'Connect here' site that partnerships manage Connect Here - Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership (edinburghhsc.scot) with a section on walking groups and community gardens (under the physical activity section) examples include Connect Here Gardening Guide March 2023 (edinburghhsc.scot)
Walking for Health
Walking for Health | Paths for All
This charity aims to support people to be active every day through walking to improve heath. ‘Paths for All’ provide support for local health walks across Scotland, and they are FREE! You can read more about why walking is good for physical and mental health, social health, and the environment here
You can find a link to health walks near you here. Health Walks | Paths for All
Commentary, News and Developments
Red Whale. “Nature…so important we should prescribe it?” A useful overview of green social prescribing in primary care. October 2024. There is a particularly useful section on conversational prompts with suggestions such as “You may feel better when you’re outside. Science tells us that nature reduces stress.”
Greener Practice. Nature and health. An overview of the benefits of nature-based health interventions in primary care.
Intelligent Health. “A breath of fresh air: why Green Social Prescribing must be part of everyday healthcare.” Useful and practical tips for including GSP as a routine part of healthcare in primary care. March 2025
“Nature Heals”. A personal account by Paul Barclay, the Senior Project Officer at The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) about how taking part in nature-based activities helped him manage severe mental health problems.