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Our work

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Championing nature for health and wellbeing

The Green Health Hub is an online directory connecting and signposting people to opportunities improving health and wellbeing in the New Forest
Discover groups on the Green Health Hub Discover groups on the Green Health Hub

Approved groups

listed offering opportunities

Four NHS placements

supported through the Green Health Hub, and counting

One network

for individuals, groups, and social prescribers

£27m equivalent annual value

of the National Park in estimated avoided healthcare costs

A purple orchid with a grassy background.

Our purpose

The Green Health Hub is an online directory for opportunities improving wellbeing and championing health equity in the New Forest and surrounding areas.

It focusses on nature for health and wellbeing as well as connections to local communities and heritage by linking health professionals, providers, groups, and individuals.

Find out more about us Find out more about us
A man stands in front of a projector screen giving a talk about health and wellbeing in the New Forest.

What we do

The Green Health Hub champions nature for health and wellbeing by:

  • Connecting health professionals, providers, groups, and individuals
  • Signposting to health and wellbeing-focused groups and opportunities in the New Forest area
  • Hosting NHS placements promoting health equity and leading wellbeing research in the National Park
  • Speaking as a prominent voice on nature for health and wellbeing

Our journey

From hosting it’s first NHS placement and supporting research and pilot groups in the National Park to establishing a network connecting health professionals, providers, and individuals, the Green Health Hub has grown as a leading voice on nature for health and wellbeing in the New Forest.

A close up shot of grass and lichen with bright light and vibrant greens.
A man in a grey jumper stands in front of a tree smiling at the camera.
Three people stand in a field - two women with a man between them.
A man stands in front of a screen presenting and making hand gestures.

The Green Health Hub was established by the New Forest National Park Authority in 2023 with the aim to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for people through improved connections to nature, as well as encouraging time spent active and engaging with communities. The Hub was formed as part of a Green Halo project on behalf of the organisations and groups represented on the site, collectively known as the Green Health Network.

The Green Health Hub supported its first NHS placement welcoming paediatrician (or children’s doctor) James who joined in 2022 as a Public Health Clinical Fellow.

In his year with the Hub, James conducted research that estimated the annual value of the National Park to be £27 million in potential healthcare avoided costs – or the equivalent of 999 nurses’ starting salaries.

Read about James’ time with the Green Health Hub and learn about his research here.

Doctors Laura Pridmore and Jennifer Wyllie joined the Green Health Hub in 2024 exploring the impact connections to nature and heritage have on individuals and the communities around them.

Their work built upon the pair’s existing specialisms in old age psychiatry, establishing a pilot Health and Heritage Group that met weekly in Lyndhurst, improving a sensory trail for patients and staff at Tatchbury Mount Hospital, and presenting at the Royal College of Psychiatrists International Congress.

Read about Laura and Jennifer’s time with the Green Health Hub and learn about their research here.

Working with its fourth NHS placement, the Green Health Hub has an established role as a prominent voice on the benefits of nature for wellbeing and championing health equity in the New Forest.

This work is led by registered Public Health Practitioner and Public Health Development Manager for NHS England, Phil Godfrey, and includes establishing the first Connect and Learn – an event for New Forest health professionals, providers, and groups to connect and strengthen green social prescribing in the National Park.

Read about Phil’s time with the Green Health Hub and learn about his work here.

'Even outside this fellowship, it would be important for all trainee health professionals and medical specialities to get exposure to treating public health in non-clinical settings.'

National Park NHS Wellbeing Fellow, Jennifer Wyllie

Discover the Green Health Hub's work