Reading Green Wellbeing Network has been awarded a grant for 2026 to help promote nature engagement among the people of the Greater Reading Area

Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security, a strategy for restoring and enhancing the ecosystems on which people and wildlife depend, was published by Natural England in November 2025 in response to the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan. Improving health and wellbeing are presented as one of the four key outcomes for nature recovery, thus supporting the key objectives of Reading Green Wellbeing Network and its member organisations.

Therapeutic horticulture has the potential to support existing treatments for anxiety and depression, significantly reducing symptoms over a programme of therapy., according to a systematic review, published by Wood et al 2025.

GPs should include mention of green social prescribing (GSP) activities – such as those provided by RGWN member organisations – in many of their patient consultations, according to Dr William Bird, in an article published in March 2025. Dr Bird provides useful links for further information and support for how to integrate GSP into routine clinical practice‍.

Embedding green social prescribing as a core component of NHS and public health strategies is key to improving access to nature, according to Outdoors for All, a report published in September 2025, and should be funded accordingly. Crucially, green social prescribing activities improve access to nature engagement for many of the people who are least served by the current access to green and blue spaces.

Space to Grow, a report into Community Gardening in the UK published by the Royal Horticultural Society in October 2025, highlights the need for organisations such as RGWN to facilitate networking and skills-sharing opportunities, and advocate for community gardening.

‍RGWN were delighted to bring together Green Health Thames Valley and Together-UK for a new collaboration this summer resulting in a series of gardening and nature connection sessions for clients of Together-UK ‍ ‍

Findings from the Healthier with Nature programme, which has funded over 90 projects in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire region, suggest that green social prescribing activities improve the wellbeing of individuals and the community. It is difficult to formally measure the benefit but any evaluation should focus on “what matters to the individual” rather than “what is the matter”.

RGWN gardens win RHS Thriving and Outstanding awards, celebrating community participation and gardening achievements

RGWN introduced Reading University students to the volunteering opportunities and wellbeing benefits of local therapeutic and community gardens

September sees the launch of Reading Green Wellbeing Network’s updated website, , the first major revision since its launch in 2022.

A recent publication argues for urgent action to increase nature connection in society, both to address the environmental crisis and for people’s and nature’s wellbeing.

A study comparing homemade compost made by a Nepalese community group with various shop-bought composts showed better results with the home-made compost.

Evidence for the benefits of social and therapeutic horticulture and approaches to improve access

The tour introduced people to the planting round the Aisha Mosque car park. The garden seeks to introduce people to the joys of growing fruit and vegetables sustainably and to encourage community engagement