🌿 What Is Green Social Prescribing?
Activities can include walking groups, gardening, wildlife sessions, outdoor crafts, and mindfulness in nature. These are designed to be welcoming, inclusive, and suitable for all abilities.
Connecting people with nature to support health and wellbeing
Why Nature Helps
Research shows that nature‑based activities can:
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Improve mood and confidence
- Increase gentle physical activity
- Reduce loneliness
- Support recovery and resilience
- Boost wellbeing during winter months
Rotherham’s parks, woodlands, and green spaces make it easier for people to access these benefits close to home.
What does green social prescribing look like in Rotherham?
Summary:
Local organisations offer a wide range of outdoor wellbeing activities that people can join through referral or self‑referral.
Examples include:
- Guided nature walks
- Wildlife conservation sessions
- Outdoor craft and wellbeing workshops
- Gardening and food‑growing groups
- Mindfulness in nature
- Social meet‑ups in green spaces
- Seasonal wellbeing programmes
These activities are designed to be friendly and supportive, especially for people who may feel nervous about joining something new.
Connecting people with nature to support health and wellbeing in your community
People can join activities through a referral or by contacting local groups directly.
Ways to access green social prescribing:
- Speak to your GP or social prescribing link worker
- Contact local community organisations offering nature‑based activities
- Explore groups through Voluntary Action Rotherham
- Join open sessions such as the Wildlife Trust’s Winter Wellbeing programme
You don’t need to be physically fit or experienced outdoors — just open to trying something new.
Winter Wellbeing Sessions
Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust is currently offering Winter Wellbeing Sessions across South Yorkshire, funded through the region’s Green Social Prescribing programme. These sessions help people build resilience, connect with nature, and feel supported during the colder months—when wellbeing can dip and motivation can be harder to find.
Places are limited and booking is essential.
Clifton Park and Garden: Rotherham – Some Thursdays 1.00pm – 3.00pm
You can book your session here
You can read about how their sessions have improved the welllbeing of people taking part here
Rawmarsh High street centre are offering an all-inclusive weekly social
Visit you local library or neighbourhood hub to find out what's available in your area.
Downloads
Sheffield Hallam university published a report in 2024
Green social prescribing is the practice of supporting people with mental health needs to engage in nature - based activities. Referrals will typically come from GPs, community mental health teams, and social workers, but people can also self - refer. Social Prescribing Link Workers, and other trusted professionals, then connect people to community groups and agencies for practical and emotional support. There are many different types of nature - based activities and therapies, including conservation, horticulture and gardening, care farming, exercise and sports, talking therapies in the outdoors, and alternative therapies in the outdoors. This report examines the effectiveness of green social prescribing in tackling and preventing mental ill health
Why it matters
At Healthwatch Rotherham, we hear every day how important it is for people to feel connected, supported, and able to take control of their wellbeing. Green social prescribing offers a practical, enjoyable way to do just that. It helps people build confidence, find community, and rediscover the benefits of being outdoors—right on their doorstep.
If you’d like to share your experience of green social prescribing or need help finding the right support, we’re here to listen.
