Morecambe Bay initiative is prescription for better health

A ground-breaking new initiative designed to improve health and wellbeing across the Morecambe Bay area has officially launched at RSPB Leighton Moss Nature Reserve.

The Morecambe Bay Nature Prescription Project is helping to unlock one of the region’s greatest assets for better health: its spectacular natural environment. By connecting people with nature in simple, meaningful ways, the project aims to support mental wellbeing, reduce feelings of isolation, improve physical health and help people build stronger connections with their local communities.

Nature Prescriptions provide healthcare professionals and trusted community practitioners with a practical tool to encourage people to spend time in nature as part of their wellbeing journey. Developed and successfully delivered by the RSPB since 2018, the programme helps individuals discover how everyday nature experiences, from listening to birdsong, finding meaning in seasonal changes and admiring the beauty of a snail shell, can have a positive impact on both physical and mental health.

The Morecambe Bay programme has been made possible through funding secured by Natural England’s Bequest Fund and represents a powerful partnership between Natural England, the RSPB, The Landscape Trust and the Morecambe Bay Partnership. Together, these organisations are combining their expertise in health, conservation, community engagement and place-based action to ensure that more people can access the wellbeing benefits of nature.

At a time when many communities are facing increasing pressures on mental and physical health services, this collaborative approach demonstrates how working across sectors can create innovative, preventative solutions that support healthier lives while also strengthening people’s connection to the natural environment around them.

A bespoke Morecambe Bay Nature Prescription booklet has been co-designed with representatives from the NHS, Lancaster CVS, Natural England, the RSPB, the Eden Project and the Morecambe Bay Partnership, ensuring that it reflects both local health priorities and the unique landscapes that make the area special.

The launch event also served as a training day for professionals who will help deliver the programme across the region. Fifteen participants, including social prescribers from five Primary Care Networks, Green Social Prescribers, CAMHS staff and representatives from local Jobcentres, received training by the RSPB on how Nature Prescriptions can be incorporated into their services.

During the day, participants explored the growing evidence linking nature and health and learned practical ways to integrate nature-based conversations into their work. They also experienced the benefits first-hand through activities around Leighton Moss, taking time to immerse themselves in the reserve’s internationally important wetlands and wildlife.

Jarrod Sneyd, senior site manager for RSPB Leighton Moss and Morecambe Bay Reserve, and whose own nature photography is included throughout the booklet, says:

 “Leighton Moss is a truly special place, and there is something powerful about experiencing its wildlife and landscapes first-hand. We hope participants left feeling connected to nature themselves and inspired to help the people they support discover that same connection, opening the door to the many wellbeing benefits nature can offer.
Every connection with nature matters. When people begin to notice and value the wildlife and green spaces on their doorstep, they’re more likely to care for nature and explore special places like Leighton Moss, helping to create a healthier future for both people and nature.

This project is brilliant and a real step towards helping people to reconnect with the simplicity and joy of being in nature – and I know because it’s revitalised me after significant health scares”

The event was further strengthened by a visit from the Lizzi Collinge MP, who met with social prescribers and learned more about the important role they play in supporting individuals and communities throughout Morecambe Bay.

The ambition for the project is clear: to make the health benefits of nature accessible to everyone. By embedding Nature Prescriptions within healthcare, voluntary sector and community settings, partners aim to reach people who may face barriers to accessing nature or who have not previously considered the role it can play in their wellbeing. Through simple, low-cost opportunities to connect with nature close to home, the project seeks to improve wellbeing, build resilience and help more people experience the benefits that nature can bring.

Through the shared commitment of Natural England, the RSPB, Morecambe Bay Partnership and the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape, the Morecambe Bay Nature Prescription Project is creating a lasting legacy that recognises nature not just as something to protect, but as a vital part of a healthier future for local people.

Together, these partners are helping to ensure that the landscapes of Morecambe Bay become part of the solution to some of the region’s biggest health and wellbeing challenges, enabling more people to live healthier, happier and more connected lives through the power of nature.