Northern Roots

Our Natural Health Service blends nature connection, sensory practice, creative activity and gentle outdoor experiences to support people experiencing mental health challenges, long-term health conditions, addiction recovery and the after-effects of serious illness.

Originally launched in 2023 as a six-month pilot working with patients from Fitton Hill GP surgery, the project is now delivered in partnership with local healthcare providers, supporting people referred by GPs as well as those recovering from cancer and people in drug and alcohol recovery.

Unlike traditional green social prescribing models focused primarily on gardening or physical activity, Northern Roots has developed a distinctive approach centred on intentional nature connection.

Every session is carefully designed to help participants slow down, feel safe and reconnect with their surroundings.

“Our approach is rooted in intentionality. Every element, from sensory objects and seasonal rituals to the pace of the sessions and the way our trained Nature Connection guides hold the space, is designed to help people feel safe enough to slow down and reconnect with themselves, with nature and with others.

“For many people who come here, life has become incredibly fast, pressured and overwhelming. Creating space to notice the world again – the smell of coffee, the sound of birds, the feel of the sun on your face – can be incredibly powerful. These simple moments help people move out of constant stress and back into their bodies.” – Steph Wild, our Natural Health Service Lead

Participants frequently describe the impact as transformative. One participant involved in the programme reflected that it helped people step away from what they described as “robot lives”, reconnecting them with nature, creativity and each other. Through activities such as foraging, crafting with natural materials and spending time outdoors in every season, participants reported rediscovering calm, creativity and joy.

A reflective account from a trainee clinical psychologist on placement at Northern Roots described how people “appeared to relax into the environment with ease”, highlighting how the careful attention to materials, space and atmosphere helps create the conditions for connection and wellbeing.

“This project is a powerful example of how we can think differently about health and wellbeing in our communities. By working in partnership with Northern Roots, we’re able to offer people a supportive, preventative approach that complements traditional healthcare and reaches those who might otherwise struggle to access support. The results we’re seeing, both in improved wellbeing and wider social value, show that nature-based programmes like this can play a meaningful role in reducing health inequalities and supporting healthier, more connected communities across Oldham.” – Mike Baker, Deputy Chief Executive and NHS Place Director of Health & Care Integration at Oldham Council

Our programme is specifically designed to reach people experiencing health inequalities, including those facing barriers to accessing traditional health services. We’ve worked closely with community groups and organisations across Oldham to reduce barriers to participation, including language accessibility and cultural stigma around mental health.

Participants come from diverse backgrounds and often experience multiple challenges, including chronic health conditions, trauma, social isolation and economic hardship. The programme’s flexible model allows people to attend for as long as they need, recognising that rebuilding confidence and wellbeing often takes time.

Northern Roots is also contributing to pioneering international research in nature-based health interventions. We’re currently one of two UK test sites for Horizon Europe’s GreenME research project, a multi-country study exploring the impact of nature-based therapies on wellbeing and mental health.

Charlotte, Osborn-Forde, Chief Executive of the National Academy for Social Prescribing said

“These results are a powerful demonstration that nature-based social prescribing can really deliver significant improvements in mental health while also reducing pressure on the NHS.

What is particularly striking is the scale of impact. Outcomes are almost double the programme average and demonstrate clear economic value alongside improved wellbeing. Oldham is leading the way in showing how nature can be embedded into mainstream healthcare, helping to tackle health inequalities and support people earlier, in ways that traditional services alone often cannot.”

The long-term ambition is for our Natural Health Service to become a permanent centre for nature-based health and wellbeing.

Steph Wild added

“We’re seeing how reconnecting with nature can support people in ways that traditional services sometimes struggle to reach.

“This isn’t just about running a weekly activity. It’s about creating environments where people feel safe enough to rebuild confidence, reconnect with community and rediscover a sense of possibility in their lives.”

By combining community connection, preventative health approaches and rigorous research, we’re helping demonstrate how nature-based interventions could form part of a more sustainable future for health and wellbeing support.

Our Natural Health Service Delivers Strongest Results in NHS Trial