Exploring how social policy can inform green social prescribing as an instrument for social justice and inclusion

The proposed project will examine the underlying historical, socioeconomic and material causes of racial
inequalities in access to nature, informing socially just and sustainable social policies in the UK. Research
has found social, psychological and physical health benefits of spending time in nature, and green social
prescribing is a new form of social policy that has been shown to be successful in improving mental and
physical health. But there are social and structural inequalities when it comes to who has access to, and
therefore benefits from, nature. Access to nature in urban and rural areas differs by ethnicity, with use
and access to green spaces varying significantly between Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic groups.
The project will address barriers to accessing nature, and the uptake of green social prescribing, for
people from a BAME background. The research questions will ask what causes these barriers and how do
we overcome them? What perspectives have been marginalised in the development of green social
prescribing (in knowledge and practice)? How do we decolonise our understanding of nature and who has
the right to access it? A critical, interdisciplinary approach will be taken, using a combination of
qualitative methods, to explore the perspectives of members of the public, service providers, policy
makers and other stakeholders.
The outcomes of this research will inform the development of social policy recommendations directed at
current debates in UK government and the NHS, including the Environment Bill and the NHS Long Term
Plan.