The county’s largest nature conservation charity works with over 20,000 children each year through its people and community outreach programmes and sessions.
Meanwhile, over 200,000 people visit the Trust’s visitor centres, The Wolseley Centre, near Rugeley, and Westport Lake Visitor Centre, in Stoke-on-Trent.

The charity prides itself on working with individuals, groups, families and organisations to connect people to conservation and wildlife across the county.

Researchers at Leeds Beckett University analysed the social value of Wildlife Trusts’ nature conservation projects which offer outdoor volunteering opportunities and programmes that support people experiencing problems such as anxiety, stress or mild depression.

The report draws on the conclusions of three years research which found that people participating in both sorts of outdoor nature conservation activities felt significantly better, both emotionally and physically, as a result. They needed, for example, fewer visits to GPs or felt more able to get back into work. (1)

The new report – Social return on investment analysis of the health and wellbeing impacts of Wildlife Trust programmes (2) – calculates the social return on investment for every £1 invested in the two types of Wildlife Trust projects and found that they are excellent value:

•  For every £1 invested in regular nature volunteering projects which play a part in creating a healthy lifestyle by tackling problems like physical inactivity or loneliness, there is an £8.50 social return.
•  For every £1 invested in specialised health or social needs projects which connect people to nature and cost more to run, there is a £6.88 social return.

Dom Higgins, Nature and Wellbeing Manager, The Wildlife Trusts says: “Evidence shows that nature volunteering or taking part in a more specialised health and nature project really works. People who have low levels of wellbeing feel healthier and happier when they’re connected to wildlife and wild places.

“We want to see the concept of nature on prescription becoming a core part of the National Health Service (NHS) mental wellbeing programmes. This new report shows the enormous value of a natural health service. It’s also important to have more investment in Wildlife Trust outdoor volunteering which has been proven to improve mental, physical and social wellbeing.

“In addition, we need many more wild, natural places near to where people live and work – that way, green prescribing can be rolled-out everywhere. This would help the NHS save money – as well as help nature to recover.”

Jo Olivant, Head of People Engagement and Resources for Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, said:
“It is so important for all of us to engage with nature and the research highlights how it helps our mental health. A nature rich environment is good for people and essential for our well-being.

“It’s vitally important we protect and conserve nature for both wildlife and also ourselves. We rely on it for our own survival.

“Our varied people engagement programme and community work allows us to reach out to thousands of young people and families each year to educate them on the importance of engaging with nature. We also do the same when people come to our visitor centres.

“The Trust has recently embarked on a series of projects to promote health and well-being, including our new Yoga sessions for children, Forest School, Strong Roots for Better Futures, 30 Days Wild and our school educational programmes.

“We are also keen to work with NHS partners moving forward so if anyone else has a wellbeing project they’d like our support with, please get in touch by emailing getwild@staffs-wildlife.org.uk

Anne-Marie Bagnall, Professor of Health & Wellbeing Evidence, Director of the Centre for Health
Promotion Research, Leeds Beckett University says:
“Our analysis of the impacts on people taking part in Wildlife Trusts’ nature conservation activities shows an excellent social return on investment for people with all levels of wellbeing. 

“We can therefore say with confidence that, based on evidence from independent research, these programmes can be effective in both maintaining good wellbeing and tackling poor wellbeing arising from social issues such as loneliness, inactivity and poor mental health.  The significant return on investment of conservation activities in nature means that they should be encouraged as part of psychological wellbeing interventions.”

Dr Amir Khan, GP and Health Ambassador for The Wildlife Trusts says:
“There is a clear need to invest in nature-based services so that more people can benefit. If more people could access nature programmes I believe that we would see a knock-on effect in our GP surgeries, with fewer people attending for help with preventable or social problems arising from being cut off from others, not getting active or having a purpose.”

The Leeds Beckett University research demonstrates the value of projects such as Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s MyPlace which specialises in eco-therapy. Run in partnership with Lancashire Care NHS Foundation, it is celebrating its 1000 th NHS participant with a special event on World Mental Health Day, Thursday 10 th October. MyPlace works in green spaces to support young people and adults to reduce, stress, anxiety and many low-level mental health conditions – thus improving health, wellbeing and fitness.

For Simon, coming to MyPlace for help with problems including depression and social anxiety was life changing. He now shares his positive experiences with others by volunteering with the project.

Simon says: “Before coming to MyPlace, I would close myself off from the world. They offered me encouragement, support and how to expand my social skills. MyPlace has made my transition back into life far easier and it’s helped my confidence and self-esteem. I thought my life was going to go one of three ways, I was either going to end up in a hospital, in a prison cell or on a slab. I did not imagine that I would be here, being able to offer what I do today.”