The document outlines the UK government's 25 Year Environment Plan, which aims to improve the environment for future generations. It discusses establishing a natural environment program to improve mental health by connecting people with nature. Two initial projects are described: social prescribing to link patients with outdoor activities, and a program engaging at-risk groups. Evidence projects will research effective nature-based interventions and increasing access for those with mental health needs. 2019 is designated a Year of Green Action to showcase progress and inspire further individual and organizational environmental action.

1. The 25 Year Environment Plan:
Commitments on mental health and natural environment

2. “Ours can become the first generation to leave the environment in a better
state than we found it”
“Connecting more people with the environment will promote greater well-
being.”
Prime Minister, 11 January 2018
Policy context: 25 Year Environment Plan
The 25 Year Environment Plan

3. 3The 25 Year Environment Plan
We will achieve:
1. Clean air.
2. Clean and plentiful water.
3. Thriving plants and wildlife.
4. Reduced risk of harm from environmental hazards such as flooding and
drought.
5. Using resources from nature more sustainably and efficiently.
6. Enhanced beauty, heritage and engagement with the natural environment.
In addition, we will manage pressures on the environment by:
7. Mitigating and adapting to climate change.
8. Minimising waste.
9. Managing exposure to chemicals.
10. Enhancing biosecurity.
Our 25 year goals

4. Policy theme: Connecting people with the
environment to improve health and wellbeing
1.Helping people improve their health and
wellbeing by using green spaces
2.Encouraging children to be close to
nature, in and out of school
3.Greening our towns and cities
4.Making 2019 a Year of Action for the
environment
4
The 25 Year Environment Plan

5. 5
25YEP policy commitments on mental health
Overall ambition: to connect people more systematically with
green space to improve mental health, using the natural
environment as a resource for preventative and therapeutic
purposes.
i.Considering how environmental therapies could be
delivered through mental health services
i.Promoting health and wellbeing through the natural
environment
The 25 Year Environment Plan

6. 6
Links between natural environment and
human health
• Evidence statement produced by Defra and the University of Exeter
Medical School, March 2017:
• Relatively strong and consistent evidence for the mental health benefits arising
from exposure to natural environments, including reductions in stress, fatigue,
anxiety and depression, particularly for marginalised groups.
• Exposure to natural environments has been linked with the development of a
healthy microbiome-key to the maintenance of a healthy immune system and
reduced rates of inflammatory-based diseases -and with more favourable: heart
rate; blood pressure; vitamin D levels; recuperation rates; maternal outcomes;
and with a reduced prevalence of type 2 diabetes.
• Natural environments are associated with and may support higher levels of
physical activity.
• Positive relationships have been found between social contact and community
cohesion and natural environments
The 25 Year Environment Plan

7. 7
Being developed as one programme
25YEP Mental Health Programme
•National partnership: Defra, Natural England, NHS England, Public
Health England
•Scoping two projects:
1. Social Prescribing project
2. Natural Environment for Health and Wellbeing project
•Supported by two evidence projects
•Mental Health Programme Board established
•Local government organisations engaged
The 25 Year Environment Plan

8. 1. The Social Prescribing project
aims to improve people’s mental health and wellbeing by
connecting them to nature based activities through social
prescribing and the broader comprehensive model of
personalised care.
2. The Natural Environment for Health and Wellbeing (NEfHW)
project
aims to connect disadvantaged populations who are most at
risk of poor mental health and wellbeing, but do not have a
diagnosed mental health condition, more systematically with
the natural environment to support good mental and physical
health.
The Environment - Overview 8
Two projects to help a broad spectrum of the
population with a wide range of mental health
needs.

9. Evidence Projects
 Understanding how those most at risk of poor mental health and
wellbeing can be supported to increase their use of and access to the
Natural environment
 This research aims to deliver greater understanding and insight into how those
most at risk of poor mental health and wellbeing in England can be supported
to increase their use and access to the Natural environment for improved
mental health and wellbeing.
 Understanding what works and supporting provision of nature-based
therapeutic interventions for people with an identifiable mental illness
 This research aims to deliver greater understanding and insight to inform and
support provision of nature-based therapeutic interventions for people with
mental illness; how these could be planned, delivered and embedded further in
practice including at larger scale.
The Environment - Overview 9

10. Next Steps
 Commence evidence projects which will help to
scope delivery
 Finalise the two proposals for delivery projects,
including scale
The Environment - Overview 10

11. Making 2019 a Year of Green Action

12. The 25 Year Environment Plan
Government actions include:
• A pledge to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste
• Support for the development of a new Northern Forest
• A new statutory body to hold government to account on the environment
• A new Clean Air Strategy
• A nature recovery network to reverse the declines in wildlife
•Commits Government to over 200 initial actions in England and
internationally to enhance the environment with more to follow.

13. Why a year of green action?
• Maintain and support current
momentum and interest
• Get more people taking action to
improve the environment
• Instil a legacy to improve the
environment within a generation
• Lay a foundation to encourage
individual and organisational
behaviour change
“We will make 2019 a year of
action for the environment, putting
children and young people at its
heart…[to] provide a focal point for
organisations that run
environmental projects, and …
encourage wider participation.”
25 Year Environment Plan, January 2018

14. • Showcase collective action and momentum by Government and stakeholders
in achieving the goals of the 25YEP
• Draw together local and national initiatives that align with the 25YEP vision and
help stakeholders to reach wider audiences
• Challenge and inspire others to play their part at this key moment in time
• Encourage more opportunities in the environment sector
for young people to get involved and lead change
What we hope to achieve

15. Showcasing collective action
Collecti
ve
action
Year of Green Action
Individ
ual
decisio
ns
Individ
ual
action
Government action
and policy changes
NGOs, industry, schools, LAs
Behavi
our
change

16. Themes
•The year will promote and inspire action around three themes
Connect
Improving people’s understanding of
the state of the environment, the
benefits a healthy environment can
bring, and the effect of their actions
on the natural world.

17. Themes
Protect
Helping communities and businesses
to reduce their impact on the
environment through
greener decision-making.
Image courtesy of WRAP

18. Themes
Enhance
Inspiring people to enrich the
environment, encouraging
individuals and organisations to
actively improve their local
environment.

19. What is Green action?
•A ‘green action’ is any action that delivers against at least one of the themes.
Connect
Individuals
•Take part in citizen science projects
to measure local wildlife populations
•Visit local greenspace
•Use a green gym
Organisations / Businesses
•Increase greenery in workplaces
•Take steps to inform your workforce
of the value nature provides, including
to mental health
Protect
Individuals
•Use energy and material resources
more efficiently
•Use peat free compost
•Support the zero plastic waste
agenda
Organisations / Businesses
•Reduce the environmental impact of
your supply chain
•Minimise the use of pesticides
•Install water refill points
Enhance
Individuals
•Plant pollinator friendly flowers
•Take part in environmental
volunteering activities
•Dig a pond or put up a bird or bat box
Organisations / Businesses
•Support green infrastructure by
installing green walls and roofs
•Encourage corporate volunteering
days or funding of community
environment projects

20. Children and young people
You can get involved too by:
•Creating opportunities for young people to fundraise, volunteer or campaign to improve our
environment
•Involving young people in the leadership of your organisation
•Joining the #iwill campaign by making a pledge - #iwill4nature
• Children and young people are at the heart of the year.
• Defra has formed a partnership with the charity Step Up To Serve to
develop an environment theme for their national #iwill Campaign in 2019.
• The #iwill campaign aims to make involvement in meaningful social action a part of life for all 10-20
year olds by 2020 and has recruited 50 young environmental campaigners to be #iwill ambassadors

21. Get involved
Please tell us:
1.What you intend to do?
2.Who it is aimed at/who it involves?
3.When you are doing it?
4.Whether you are happy for us to
store, and
potentially use, the information in
relation to the year.
• We would love to hear about any actions your organisation are
planning for 2019.
• Do you have any case studies?
Showcasing the benefits green action brings to
both the environment and those taking part.
• Spread the word
Please distribute this information
through your networks.

22. www.yearofgreenaction.org
#YearOfGreenAction
25YearEnvironmentPlan@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Contact us