A Green Health Prescription is a new form of prescription. Alongside other, traditional, treatments your health professional may prescribe spending time outdoors. Your prescription may say how long you need to spend outdoors and it may include ideas of how to do this and groups that can help.
Why is green health prescribing offered?
Spending time outdoors has been shown to help people’s physical health, mental health and help manage long term conditions by:
- Reducing stress, tiredness, anxiety, and depression.
- Increasing the healthy bacteria in your gut, levels of vitamin D and supporting your immune system.
- Reducing your heart rate and blood pressure and reducing diseases such as asthma and type 2 diabetes.
Local groups:
Midlothian Community Hospital Garden 16+
Join gardening, green space activities and an outdoor kitchen.
An enclosed community garden in Mayfield where folks can join in with outdoor learning and activities, improve wellbeing and access healthy food from our cafe.
An outdoor group in a walled garden in Dalkeith. A walking group and gentle cycling group.
Woodland activities including natural crafts, woodland workouts, nature discovery & creative storytelling. You can work towards an accredited award at a level to suit you.
A programme of activities including outdoor walking groups, line dancing and walking rugby for the over 50s throughout Midlothian.
Cycling & walking.
Why not try the challenge of the Pentland Hills, gentle walks along the old railway or a few hours in parks and estates in Dalkeith, Vogrie, the Bush estate, St John Clerk’s in Penicuik and around Newbattle Abbey.
Outdoor Gyms
Outdoor Gyms can be found in Bonnyrigg and Mayfield Parks
Mental Health Swims – £0 – £2
A mental health peer support community hosting free, safe and inclusive swim meet ups. Find one near you.
If you are looking for local support, please go to our service directory to find out what services and projects are available to you – Midspace service directory