Download the toolkit
The Nature Buddies toolkit can be used by organisations and providers to set up a Nature Buddies programme, supporting people to take part in nature-based activities.
The Nature Buddies Toolkit was developed as part of the Nature Buddies pilot project led by Natural England in collaboration with NASP, Nottingham CVS, Sea Change Devon, Active Devon, Nottingham Refugee Forum, UK SUP Fitness, Stepping into Nature and B:Friend Doncaster.
The Nature Buddies pilot project emerged in response to what we learnt about the barriers which individuals face in being able to access green social prescribing (GSP) services from the GSP test-and-learn programme The test-and-learn programme not only enabled us to better understand the range and complexity of the challenges people face to access services, but also increased our awareness of the sheer numbers of people these challenges affect. These barriers range from anxiety and fear, through to issues with infrastructure, such as transportation.
Different models for Nature Buddies were scoped with local partners in Nottingham through a co-design process led by Nottingham CVS with NASP. Following scoping, Natural England commissioned pilot projects with Nature Buddies partners to explore how buddies could help people who experience social isolation and anxiety to improve their mental health by accessing nature-based activities outside and by connecting with the natural world. The learning developed from this work, as well as discussions with a wide range of stakeholders has been fed into a Nature Buddies toolkit.
What are Nature Buddies?
A Nature Buddy is a specially-trained volunteer who enables a person, on a one-to-one basis or as part of a small group, to overcome barriers to taking part in nature-based activities, such as a lack of confidence to get outside, to explore natural spaces and to connect with nature.
A Nature Buddy could simply help a participant access a bus timetable to travel to a nature-based activity, or they could play a more involved role in enabling them to fully participate in the activity. A relationship could be short-term or ongoing and could include planning activities together over time.
Nature Buddies schemes can be run by organisations who organise nature-based activities and volunteers who want to extend their roles to offer outreach and be-friending. Nature Buddies schemes can also be set up by be-friending or community organisations who would like to add in nature-based activities to what they are offering their clients and volunteers. Furthermore, there are also schemes that may linked to social prescribers.
This toolkit and resource pack can be used by charities, community organisations, local authorities, physical activity partnerships, green providers, community volunteer services, health providers and social prescribers. If you have questions or would like further information about Nature Buddies, please contact Rachel Cook.
Nature Buddies Toolkit
The Nature Buddies Toolkit includes information on:
- How to design a Nature Buddies programme that builds on the interests of both your volunteers and the people you work with
- How to enhance your offer to volunteers, recruit new volunteers and give existing volunteers new ideas to develop their relationships with the people they support on a one-to-one basis or in small groups
- How to empower people to feel better, improving their mental health and other health outcomes and to build social connections to overcome loneliness
- How to build people’s connection to the outdoor spaces and nature near them
- How to measure success and impact
- Evidence from our pilot of the impacts of Nature Buddies on individual’s mental health and nature connection
- Case studies and anonymised testimonials that demonstrate the benefits
Watch our animation about Nature Buddies
Further resources
Read the evidence
Nature-based social prescribing can have positive effects on health and wellbeing. This includes the reduction in loneliness for people more likely to be experiencing health inequalities.
