Green Health Partnerships Ailsa Villegas Senior Development Officer

Green Health Partnerships Ailsa Villegas, Senior Development Officer, Highland Green Health Partnership

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread. Places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to the body and soul. John Muir

The evidence… • A study in the Netherlands looked at physician-assessed morbidity in 196 Dutch general practices, for 24 disease clusters, and after controlling for socio-economic factors found that disease prevalence was lower the more green space there was in a 1 km radius (Maas et al 2009). • Exercising in natural environments - compared to exercising indoors - is associated with greater feelings of revitalisation, and a greater intention to repeat the activity (Coon et al 2011). A Dose of Nature Evidence report – University of Exeter.

Realising the health benefits from our natural assets is dependent on: • Place-making - improving the supply, quality and accessibility; • Participation - increasing the number of people who regularly engage with the natural environment; and • Policy integration - the extent to which the benefits are recognised in health policy and practice

Aims of the Green Health Partnerships To develop area-wide, co-ordinated, cross-sector action to upscale and mainstream green exercise by improving information, awareness and promotion of green infrastructure and the provision of green exercise programmes. Four pilots: Lanarkshire, Dundee, North Ayrshire Highland

The Highland Green Health Partnership Aims: • To get more people to use the outdoor environment and more regularly • To contribute to reducing health inequalities by targeting activity at those who are most in need • To co-ordinate partnership efforts on use of the outdoor environment for health • To identify existing assets, make links between them, and identify gaps in provision • To develop a network of those with an interest in promoting the outdoor environment for health • To create a shared learning environment

Nature, wherever you may find it…. .

‘Your eyes can take you much further than your feet will carry you’

The Spectrum of Green Health Activity

Guard against future health issues.

The Social Determinants of Health

Breaking down the Barriers

How can we encourage more participation? The best advocates are those already doing the activities: The best thing about commuting by ebike is that it’s quicker than driving, since I don’t waste time hunting for a parking space - I park right by the office door every morning!” Alison

Our Project Outline http: //www. highlandcpp. org. uk/hghp. html

• • • Green Health Week 19 th-26 th April 2019 Press Release Logo Social Media Campaign – Key Messages Radio Campaign Photography Competition Formal Partnership Launch 23 rd April, Botanic Gardens

Contact: Ailsa Villegas Senior Health Development Officer – Green Health NHS Highland Tel: 01463 705269 Mobile: 07816 219 126 ailsa. villegas@nhs. net