Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security - Natural England’s Strategy, published 6 November 2025
Bringing about nature recovery within England is at the heart of Natural England’s strategy, Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security, published in November 2025. Nature recovery will not only help address the climate crisis and build resilience but will also help enable people and wildlife to thrive. Central to the strategy is making nature more accessible, and it will be “wilder, richer and more abundant”, according to their vision.
A key part of Natural England’s strategy is to improve health and wellbeing, through making nature easily accessible to everyone. The goal is for everyone to have nature within 15 minutes of their home. Improving access to green and blue spaces is urgently needed, with a survey indicating that 7% of people do not have a garden or other personal green space such as an allotment [Natural England 2021]. This is particularly the case in deprived areas and for low-income and vulnerable groups. This is being tackled by encouraging developers to include green spaces in housing developments.
Having a healthier natural environment to live and work in will improve people’s health, wellbeing and quality of life. Furthermore, forming connections with nature and having the opportunity to engage with nature will help people to care for and shape the green spaces in their communities.
In their strategy, Natural England specifically mentions adopting Green Social Prescribing as part of public health policy. This is regarded as a key element to improving wellbeing and is supported by evidence from the Cross-Government Preventing and Tackling Mental Ill Health through GSP Programme.
Natural England also aims to support the healthcare, education and employment sectors to integrate nature into their services.