‘’The Natural Health Service at Northern Roots saved my life, and I want everyone to know about it’’ Sue, Natural Health Service participant
The Natural Health Service at Northern Roots is a social prescribing programme designed to support health and wellbeing through providing connection to nature, growing, creativity and community.
Our setting, which includes an Urban Farm and 160-acres of woodland, moorland and meadow, presents a unique opportunity to support people’s health and wellbeing through nature-based activities.
Sessions can include activities such as going for a nature walk, nature craft, tree identification, cloud gazing, whittling, foraging, and focusing on breathing, letting go of stress and deepening connection to nature and each other.
‘’We tend to think of prescriptions as something medical, but at the Natural Health Service we look at how we can support people in nature.’’ Steph, Natural Health Service Lead
Over the last two years we have provided green social prescribing and eco-therapy to a range of individuals experiencing complex issues, including anxiety, depression, social isolation, diabetes, addiction, cancer and chronic pain.
For our pilot programme, we partnered with Hill Top Surgery in Fitton Hill, a community on our doorstep. Through this partnership we have been supporting individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, social isolation and ill health.
“One patient, who had support appointments every 4 – 6 weeks before joining the Natural Health Service, has requested to book appointments only as and when she needs them in future. She says she no longer needs this level of support and has expressed loving her time at Northern Roots.” GP, Hilltop Surgery, Fitton Hill
We also deliver nature-based sessions for Turning Point, supporting their impactful drug and alcohol recovery services, and Get Oldham Working, encouraging participants to build confidence and self-belief ahead of gaining employment.
Our service has been commissioned by Oldham Integrated Care Board, a national first, and we are expanding our offer, working with more GP practices, creating services for caregivers and cancer patients, and piloting a new preventative mental health offer for young people.
In September 2025, we launched the world’s first Randomised Control Trial into the impact of green social prescribing on mental health at Northern Roots. This initiative is part of GreenME, a Horizon Europe research project spanning six countries. Oldham is the project’s Urban Case Study.
Our Natural Health Service was also a delivery partner for NHS-England’s Health Inequalities Green Social Prescribing (GSP) pilot. Northern Roots was the largest single provider in the programme, accounting for 30% of the services delivered.
NHS research revealed that Green Social Prescribing delivers a statistically significant improvement in participant mental wellbeing as well as positive net economic benefit, demonstrating that green social prescribing can help to alleviate the burden on the NHS as well as radically improving an individual’s health and wellbeing.
“We adapt our sessions, so they are accessible for those with complex, overlapping health and mobility needs. The difference in participants is incredible. They say they’ve become more interested in life again, they notice things and are more engaged with the world, and that correlates with a sense of purpose and wellbeing that improves all aspects of their lives.’’ Steph, Natural Health Service Lead
Our Natural Health Service is just one of the ways in which we are supporting local people to engage with our site, nature and each other, to become a part of the Northern Roots community and story, to the benefit of themselves and their families.
