Happier Outdoors is a project of Natural England’s Thames Solent area team, intended to strengthen and promote the many organisations carrying out green and blue social prescribing work in Greater London. These forms of social prescribing encourage people to connect with nature to benefit their health and wellbeing (green is for land, blue is for water).
Happier Outdoors consists of two parts: the London Happier Outdoors Network, which is open to all organisations or individuals with an interest in green and blue social prescribing in London and is intended to increase communication and collaboration; and the Happier Outdoors Festival, a series of nature-based events delivered by organisations across Greater London over a 10-day period.
The London Happier Outdoors Network was set up in July 2023 and had over 100 members by April 2024. Its inaugural meeting took place in February 2024 and received positive feedback.
The Happier Outdoors Festival took place from 18-27 March 2024. 70 organisations and individuals delivered over 200 activities in every local authority area in Greater London except the City. Attendance at events was highly variable, but participating organisations reported that the Festival had helped them connect to Natural England and other partners and made them feel like part of a bigger picture. They expressed strong interest in repeating the Festival in 2025.
In 2023-24, Natural England co-ordinated both aspects of the Happier Outdoors project for a total expenditure of less than £5,000. This report reviews the processes involved, the results and the lessons learned.