Patients with chronic pain and other long-term conditions will be "prescribed" a list of seasonal outdoor activities such as listening to birdsong as a pilot project is extended to Orkney. The 'Nature Prescriptions' initiative has previously been trialled in Edinburgh and Shetland as a way of improving patients physical and mental wellbeing by engaging more with nature. It will be jointly run by the RSPB Scotland and conservation programme Species on the Edge.
Under the scheme, a healthcare professional will give patients a Nature Prescription Calendar which contains suggestions of seasonal activities they can try to help them connect to nature, while talking them through the potential benefits to their mental and physical wellbeing. READ MORE: 10 of Scotland's best summer woodland walks Don't miss a tweet: Why birdsong is good for our mental health Scotland archaeology festival gets underway with call for volunteers A growing body of evidence finds that a strong connection with the natural world is associated with improved immune function, memory and concentration, as well as reduced stress, better sleep quality, and lower levels of anxiety, depression, and respiratory illnesses. The Nature Prescription initiative was first trialled in Shetland and in five GP practices across Edinburgh.
Three quarters (74%) of participants reported beneficial effects, and 91% of prescribing health professionals stated that they would continue to offer Nature Prescriptions. One patient who to.