Resource bank for People and Nature

A selection of useful resources to support work on nature, health and wellbeing.

These are a selection of resources (reports, data, organisations, networks, toolkits, etc) that we think are useful on the topic of nature, people, and health and wellbeing. We’ve tried to include resources with both national and local relevance, but this is certainly not complete.

If you think we’ve missed something that would be useful to others across Oxfordshire, please do get in touch (Lizzie.Moore@Southandvale.gov.uk).

We also recommend that you check out the following local pages:

1. Evidence on the relationship between nature and wellbeing

An overview of evidence

Evidence summaries from Natural England

Key papers on nature and health inequalities

2. Evidence on access to green space and nature

3. The economic case for nature-based solutions for wellbeing

4. Nature Connectedness

5. Green Social Prescribing

Green Social Prescribing in the NHS

Evidence to support Green Social Prescribing

Best practice and resources

Organisational websites relevant to green prescribing

Social and therapeutic horticulture links

National nature organisations wellbeing pages

6. Nature and the NHS

7. Children and Young People

Evidence

Best practice and resources

8. Inclusive Nature Recovery

Evidence

Evidence

National nature organisations accessible walks

9. Green infrastructure

10. Training

Mental Health

Oxfordshire Forest School Training providers

Other training

11. Evaluation resources

  • Social prescribing evaluation resources National Academy for Social Prescribing (2024)

    These resources explain the purpose of evaluation, as well as tools which will guide you through the process and help with practical aspects such as selecting appropriate outcomes measures, developing and using theory of change models, and economic evaluation methods.

Measuring Nature Connectedness

Multiple scales are available for this, which are used in different contexts. The following scales are two of the most commonly used in the UK:

Please note that Natural England is developing a standard 'Connecting People with Nature Monitoring Tool' for wellbeing in nature interventions, for adaptation to the local context. We will add resources here when they become available.

12. Oxfordshire Population Health

For more information on population health and health inequalities, see:

Public Health Strategies relevant to people and nature

Key ‘Anchor Institutions’ responsible for delivering population health and addressing health inequalities in Oxfordshire

13. Oxfordshire People and Nature Projects and Activities

There are various ways to find out about project in Oxfordshire that help people and nature to thrive, including:

  • Wild Oxfordshire map and directory of community led environment groups
  • Community Action Groups (CAG) Oxfordshire member map and directory
  • Livewell Oxfordshire brings together information about groups and organisations offering services for adults in one place (click on ‘things to do’ then filter for ‘Health, nature and green spaces’)
  • Activities Oxfordshire lists services and groups which offer activities for young people aged 13-19 and up to 25 for people with learning difficulties and disabilities (click outdoor and adventure)
  • Good Food Oxfordshire (GFO) Food Services Map (filter for community gardens)
  • BBOWT volunteering opportunities

Oxfordshire’s five District/City councils also promote outdoor activities locally. For more information see:

14. Oxfordshire Transport

We know that transport can be one of the biggest barriers to accessing greenspaces and taking part in nature-based activities. Helpful resources include:

15. Networks for people, health, and nature

16. Funding

There are multiple local, regional, and national funding opportunities for projects relating to nature, environment, community, and wellbeing. We suggest the following for relevant grants and funding support:

For an overview of funding opportunities

  • Community Action Groups (CAG) Oxfordshire manages an up-to-date funding database, which includes grants with a specific focus on community and nature connection.
  • To receive regional and national health and nature updates, email mandy.preece@naturalengland.org.uk to be added to Natural England’s South East Health and Nature monthly round-up mailing list.
  • The Green Infrastructure Partnership lists funding sources for land managers and farmers, Local Authorities, communities, and not-for-profit organisations.

For general advice on funding

17. Podcasts, Blogs and Apps

Here is a selection that we recommend!

Podcasts

Blogs

  • The Nature Effect Blog from an Oxford based Community Interest Company that seeks to nurture thriving eco-systems for people, plants and wildlife, while recognising the challenges that people face both as individuals and as communities.
  • Beyond Greenspace Blog from the University of Exeter researchers seeking to understand relationships between natural environments, health and wellbeing.
  • Finding Nature a Nature Connectedness Research Blog by Prof. Miles Richardson.
  • Outside Our Way an online space for disabled and chronically ill people to shape their own narratives of the outdoor experience.

Apps

  • Wylder The New Wellbeing App to Connect to Nature
  • Go Jauntly App Your walking app for everyday outdoor adventures (check out ‘Nature Notes’ which prompts you to notice and note the good things in nature to support wellbeing)

    For those who live in Cherwell, the District Council has partnered with Go Jauntly so that 40 local walking routes are available on this app.
  • BirdNet to easily identify bird species by their song
  • Leaf Snap to identify plants around you and learn how to care for them

Want to let us know about a resource you'd like to add to this list? Get in touch at localnaturepartnership@southandvale.gov.uk

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