Green Social Prescriptions at
St Triduana’s Medical Practice

“The moments I’ve experienced just being in nature are priceless. It helps me in so many ways.”

Patient Testimonial

Spending time outdoors in a natural place like a garden or park has been shown to help with physical and mental health. 

We can offer you a “green social prescription” to help you spend time outdoors. This is a new way to help our patients that we can offer you along with any other treatment you are receiving.

Our doctors, nurses and healthcare staff can offer you a prescription after talking with you about your needs and how it might help. Your prescription may say how long you need to spend outdoors and what to do. It may also include a recommendation about a group or activity that is available locally.

There is a list of local activities and groups available at the end of this page. 

If you think this might help you and you want to know more about this, please ask one of our staff or at reception.

Local outdoor activities

Here are some local community groups who can offer you outdoor activities as part of your prescription. Use the contact information or follow the links to find out more. The links will open in a new tab.

The Ripple Project has walking groups and other activities around Restalrig, Lochend & Craigentinny. www.rippleproject.co.uk

Lochend Secret Garden is a neighbourhood garden at 6 Lochend Quadrant, Edinburgh EH7 6DL. To find out more, email them at lochendsecretgarden@gmail.com or visit their website.

Branching Out offers chances to spend time in woodlands to improve mental health and well-being. To see a map showing local activities: follow this link.

Hopetoun Crescent Garden. Activities include gentle Tai Chi in the outdoors with a cup of tea and and a chat at the end. Suitable for all. Contact Nelly Henzler by phone at 07908844173 or check the Friends of Hopetoun Garden website.

The Porty Art Walk. Lots of different outdoor artworks. More details at this link.

Porty Park Run. You don’t have to run, many people go along to spend time outside and watch. It takes part at Figgate Park, Baileyfield Road, Edinburgh, EH15 1NA. For more info follow this link.

Volunteer with Dr Neil’s Garden in Duddingston. Find out more at this link.

Other activities in Edinburgh & Lothian

Some things you can do in Edinburgh and Lothian. Use the links or contact information below to learn more.

Edinburgh Leisure offers “ageing well” walks in all parts of Edinburgh. To see if they offer something you can join check this link.

Redhall Walled Garden.
Run by the Scottish Association for Mental Health, the garden provides outdoor activities to help people experiencing mild to moderate emotional or mental health difficulties. For more information, follow this link.

Royal Edinburgh Community Garden in Morningside, Edinburgh.
At the Community Gardens we focus on welcoming people experiencing mental or physical health problems, disadvantage, isolation or poverty. You can contact them by email RECG@cyrenians.scot or follow this link.

Royal Botanic Gardens offers health and well-being activities in its community gardens. For more information, follow this link.

Paths for All offers guided outdoor walks in all areas of Scotland including Edinburgh. Find out more at this link.

Historic Scotland often have outdoor volunteer opportunities in and around Edinburgh. You can find out more at this link.

Things you can do by yourself

To help you spend time in nature by yourself we have made 4 seasonal activity calendars that you can use. You can download copies from the links below or ask at your GP surgery for a copy of this season’s calendar

Use the calendars for ideas about things you can do outdoors in nature. The important thing is to spend time outside and to take time to really NOTICE what’s around you. Consider setting your phone to silent so you can take some time for yourself. You don’t have to go very far: just finding a nearby bench or place to sit is all you need. Go outside with someone if it helps. If you can get into a habit of doing this, it is even better.

Each link below downloads a PDF file with a checklist of things to do that you can print.

  • Spring. On March 21st the days start to get longer than the nights. Spend the time to look for some fresh flowers and watch the tree buds turn to leaves.

  • Summer. Enjoy the long days, watch bees if they are around, see if you can find some wildflowers.

  • Autumn. As the colours around you change and the days get shorter spend time watching a sunset or looking at fallen leaves or the animals as they get ready for winter.

  • Winter. After December 21st, the days start to get longer again. Look for evergreen trees and plants, maybe look out for a robin.

Want to know more?

If you want to know more about green social prescriptions and the benefits for getting out into nature, click the “General Information” button below which will take you to the main page of this website.

Reading a print out of this page and want to find it online? This is the Deep Green page for St. Triduana’s Medical Practice. You can find it online at deepgreen.scot/striduanas.