Background

GreenSPring was a green social prescribing test and learn project funded by NHSE, DEFRA, DHSC, NASP and Sport England. The project was delivered from 1st April 2021 – 31st March 2023. The aim of the project was to test how to embed GSP into communities with the ultimate aim to contribute to: 

    • improve mental health outcomes 
    • reduce health inequalities
    • reduce demand on the health and social care system 
    • develop best practice in making green social activities more resilient and accessible. 

 

As we approached the final phase of the pilot, three clear themes emerged as priority areas to embed green social prescribing in Derbyshire: 

    • Deeper understanding of the participant journey from referral through to experiencing activity; and specifically, what could be done to achieve an optimal experience and better outcomes for individuals struggling with their mental health. 
  •  
    • Develop and scale the Green Spring Network to create quality, sustainable and joined up community-based provision for GSP. Model the creation of a provider network with a collective voice, evidence of impact, peer led learning and a strong, reciprocal relationship with the ICB. 
    • Support and nurture a Provider Collaborative model in order to lead to thriving community activity and person-centred practices. 

These three areas of work have been delivered since March 2023 as a legacy of the GreenSPring test and learn national programme, with further participation in an extension programme, completed in March 2025.

Aims and Approach

GreenSPring aimed to:  

  • develop a Derbyshire-wide collaborative framework to bring existing and new partners together to create a sustainable scaled–up model that better connects social prescribers and providers, accelerating and expanding the work, so more people can be helped to access local greenspaces 
  • learn lessons about shared policy and delivery and identify barriers, ways of improving outcomes for citizens  
  • create a referral ready sector with capacity and confidence to deliver this. 

Find out more about the GreenSPring pilot work in this film.

During the first phase of the work, and following interviews and interactions with local stakeholders, a series of challenges and key concepts emerged and formed the basis of the ‘test and learn’ work. 

The subsequent commissioned testing work in each of the districts and boroughs was developed iteratively, based on insight and contributions from relevant stakeholders. Testing was carried out in the following areas: 

ToC element  Nine site testing/summary 
1. Funding of green providers (sustainability, availability, accessibility)  Craftwood CIC (AV); Grow Outside CIC(AV); Whispering Trees CIC (SE) about the local system/connections; PHBs; and Provider Collaborative modelling.  
2. Political will and/or strategic leadership 2a. Vision and strategy   Leadership/investment, relating to commissioners. 
3. Availability of appropriate green providers  Buxton Civic Association (HP); High Peak; Derby City, North East Derbyshire; and Wellies CIC/Wild Roots CIC (DD). 
4. Alignment of organisational structures (eg policy objectives, governance, record keeping)  Bolsover 
5. Evidence for GSP efficacy  This was not tested (intentionally), except through wellbeing measures in each piece of work, which led to the quantitative data summary. 
6. Network of providers, link workers, referrers and funders (existence and connectedness)   Spiral Arts (Derby City) 
7. Mutual understanding and awareness of different parts of the system and how they operate  Derbyshire Wildlife Trust at Kingsway (Derby City) and social prescriber training session (Sheffield Wildlife Trust) (county-wide). 
8. Referrals to GSP (extent and appropriateness)  Community Growth CIC (Chesterfield)(appropriateness); Elephant Rooms CIC (Erewash)(extent); Hunloke Community Garden (Chesterfield)(both); and referral testing DWT/SDDC’s Environmental Education Project/Grow Outside (Derby City/SD/HP). 
8a. Inequalities in access to nature  SDDC’s EEP (SD) 
9. Engagement of users in GSP processes  Green Thyme/Derby West Indian Community Association (Derby City); EEP (SD); and lived experience work. 
10. Level of retention/drop-out of users in the GSP system at different points in the pathway  Buddying (AV)