Above: NHS staff and allied partners networking at our 2025 celebration event

Above: Reasercher Daniel Ford Ph. D presenting his findings

Watch highlights from the day

Press coverage from our 2025 celebration event

The forecast was rain and possible thunderstorms – not ideal or potentially safe for an outdoor event under Oak Trees! All our tarps were raised the day before, including our makeshift stage from palettes and the woods adorned with our home-made bunting! 

Local food provided by the amazing Fran – permaculture trainer, and caterer!

Above: Fran Pickering, right, with Circle of Life Rediscovery Director Marian Williams, left, and facilitator Charlie, center

Influential speakers from the Sussex nature and health care community spoke with great passion about their own commitment to the vision.  As well as CLR’s Director Marina Robb and Jon Cree who reminded us of all of our innate, genetic connection to nature, we listened to Sarah Davies and Molly Aldam from Natural England and The National Academy of Social Prescribing, Dr Sharon Cuthbert, Consultant Psychiatrist at Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust and Tammie Cook-Duncan and her team from The Sussex Partnership NHS Trust.

Why?  

We recognise that what keeps us well is more than medicine. We know that accessing nature reduces stress, that soil molecules release serotonin – reducing anxiety and depression, and spending time doing things that matter to us, can make us feel better.  

It’s genuinely surprising that there isn’t more national advocacy for this mix of movement, time in nature, creativity, offering your service and social belonging when these core areas are fundamental to being healthy and well, whilst preventing further physical and mental health challenges.

At Circle of Life Rediscovery CIC, our mission is to transform health and education through nature – since 2006, we’ve been pioneering green interventions and partnering with NHS departments across Sussex.

Above: A parent and child learning to use a saw during The Woodland Project. The project by Circle of Life Rediscovery and Sussex NHS CAMHS LD FISS services offers experiences in nature for the parents of children with severe physical or learning disability and families who have a child experiencing mental health issues.

Nature-based Interventions (NBI’s)

Nature-based Interventions (NBI’s) or green interventions, as I define them, are different from Green Prescriptions (social prescriptions in the outdoors prescribed by G.P’s) because they usually involve partner work with key organisations and are seen as a deliberate intervention linked to mental health and physical health outcomes – rather than general wellbeing.  They are structured, therapeutic activities conducted outdoors that support people experiencing a range of health challenges. 

The term Nature-based Interventions are however often used synonymously with Social ‘Green’ Prescribing, which seek to link people to non-medical support in the community. Whether it’s woodland walks, outdoor mindfulness, conservation tasks, or creative activities under the canopy of trees, these interventions have the potential to reduce fatigue, improve sleep and mood, and increase overall physical activity.  They could be called ‘nature therapy’ or ‘eco-therapy’ and are focused on health and wellbeing and not more serious illnesses or people with higher needs. 

In both contexts, NBIs don’t just improve health in isolation—they foster connection. People often report feeling more deeply rooted in their environment, and more connected to peers and support services after taking part. The group-based format of most NBIs also creates space for gentle social interaction. This can feel far less intimidating than traditional therapeutic settings, especially for people who may find conventional services overwhelming.

In our case, we have been working and fundraising for over 20 years with NHS teams – each bringing our expertise to the programme which has enabled us to work with much more complex people and their families. Our programmes involve careful risk assessments, which are very bespoke to individual circumstances and we co-create the activities with the service users – when they are verbal, or through careful observation if they are non-verbal.  There is a lot to this.

Amongst the public, there is growing recognition that spending time outdoors is good for our mental health and wellbeing. More than ever, people are discovering that nature isn’t just a backdrop for relaxation (though it is this!) — it can also be a powerful tool for healing. Increasingly, research and frontline experience are showing that nature can offer significant benefits for individuals struggling with their mental health.  

Reaching Those Often Left Behind

One of the most promising applications of NBIs is for people experiencing serious mental health conditions, including schizophrenia or psychosis. These conditions often emerge during a person’s teenage years or early twenties, at a time when they may already be experiencing social isolation or disconnection. Unfortunately, only around 1 in 7 people with schizophrenia achieve full recovery under current models of care—highlighting a major gap in how we support these individuals in reclaiming their lives.

NBIs offer a hopeful alternative. In Sussex, our evaluation of our ‘Woodland Group’ in 2020 found that participants from Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) services showed real engagement, increased practical skills, and a deeper sense of connection—both to the natural world and to each other. Importantly, staff involved also reported strong buy-in and a desire to see these kinds of programmes expanded.

Yet despite the enthusiasm, a major barrier remains: lack of training. While many clinicians and frontline mental health staff are eager to incorporate NBIs into their practice, few have access to specialist training that equips them with the tools, confidence, and frameworks to lead safe, effective sessions outdoors.

Beneficial practice

Our work alongside the Child and Adolescent Mental health service – Looked after Children, Adoption, Learning Disability, Adult Specialist Mental Health Services, Early Intervention for Psychosis team and, most importantly with service users – have continually confirmed that both NHS staff, adults and their children want to have more nature-based opportunities and can, they say, be life changing and a life saver!  

These programmes have always been funded through grants which take our attention away from practice and delivery. It’s not a sustainable model – and I have understood for many years – whether you are within education or health – if you train the practitioners, then they can offer this directly within their own practice – avoiding the need to bring outside organisations in all the time.  It’s got something to do with that old proverb – “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”

So, we developed the Certificate in Nature-based Practice (now Level 3). Both Natural England and Circle of Life Rediscovery CIC, want to see the impact of this training on staff, service-users, and access to nature for health.  This second cohort of NHS Staff was Phase 2 of the research. We began with Phase 1 – “Exploring the impact of nature-based training on practitioners in mental health and public, primary, and community health services” you can download here – to focus on Phase 2 “Embedding Nature-Based Practice and Nature Recovery Strategies into Public Healthcare”. Download here.  Over these two years, we have had a huge positive response about the training and these staff have subsequently bumped into challenges back in their service – and opportunities.  

From my perspective, this was inevitable. As with the education sector, changing an indoor culture to an outdoor culture of learning and wellbeing takes time.  We know that supportive managers make a huge difference – as within education and health, so many practitioners are giving their own time to make this work, rather than as part of a job description.  We know that having at least 2 people in a team helps to advocate and share the responsibility – and when we work outdoors, we need a second person from a health and safety perspective. 

One area of challenge that stood out is site access, development.  Whilst we teach site appraisal and how to find a green space – we don’t hand hold the staff to do this bit – and what we have discovered, is that unsurprisingly, it’s been difficult whilst working a full time NHS role, to take on all the roles and responsibilities of setting up a nature-based practice for their services users AND develop a site.  It was never going to be easier as pioneers – it never is – but it is entirely possible. As within Education, Forest School as an example has gone from 0 to thousands of children accessing green space in school over 20 years, so will the NHS do this over time.  

Why Now, Why Sussex?

Sussex is uniquely placed to lead the way. With a strong track record in mental health research and a growing appetite for innovation.  Beyond psychosis services, there is interest from a range of local partners—CAMHS Assertive Outreach Teams, Dementia Services, and other teams —all of whom see the potential of NBI’s for their service users.

That’s why we’re offering our Level 3 Certificate in Nature-based Practice, beginning this June. This course is designed to equip health professionals, educators, and social care workers with the skills needed to embed nature-based approaches into their daily work. 

Whether you’re hoping to bring new tools to your clinical role, or looking to lead safe, inclusive outdoor groups, this training is your opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners—and become part of a growing movement of care rooted in nature.

Useful Links:

• Sussex Nature Recovery website
• Sussex Nature Recovery Online mapping tool
• The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Our planet’s climate and ecological emergency document

Find out more:

• Read more about The Power of Green Social Prescribing
• Read more: Integrating Nature-based Interventions into the NHS and our Natural England Partnerships
• Download and read Extracts from: Embedding nature-based practice and nature recovery strategies into public healthcare Author Daniel Ford PhD, May 2025
• Download and read our 2024 research report: Max Hope (2024) Exploring the impact of nature-based training on practitioners in mental health and public, primary, and community health services
• More information about working with Circle of Life Rediscovery CIC via our Nature-based therapeutic interventions, Well-being in Nature Green Tonic Packages
• Enrol on the Certificate in Nature-based Practice

About The Author

Marina Robb, Circle of Life Rediscovery CIC Director and FSA Endorsed Forest School Trainer.

Marina has been working in the field of education and eco-therapy for over 25 years and has pioneers’ nature-based practice within the National Health System. 

Marina is a qualified teacher (PGCE) and since 1989 has studied Environmental Education (MA), Environmental Management (BSc) and Social Research (MSc). She also holds an Advanced Training Certificate: Ecotherapy, Nature Connection Practices that Heal with Pacifica Graduate Institute. 

She has pioneered nature programmes within the health sector, and has received funding from Natural England, Mind and The National Lottery, amongst other grant makers for her outdoor work with teenagers, families and young people with mental health issues, disabilities, dementia and early psychosis.

Marina’s book, ‘Learning with Nature’, forwarded by Chris Packham, is considered a must-have book for Forest School & Outdoor practitioners. Her second book, ‘The Essential Guide to Forest School and Nature Pedagogy’ contains everything you need to know from theory to practice.

Marina co-chairs a Community Benefit Society which manages a community woodland (CBS), used to provide access to nature for marginalised groups. She believes that everyone should have the right to access nature.