Dorset LNP has been working with its LNP colleagues across the South West and with the South Region Sustainability and Health Network (supported by NHS England and Public Health England and the South West Environment Network) to host a conference on the benefits of the natural environment to health and wellbeing.
The conference was held on 16 November 2016 in Bristol and was attended by around 125 people. The focus of the event was to highlight the benefits of using nature-based activities and interventions and the importance of incorporating these into the Sustainability and Transformation Plans being developed for delivery of future health and wellbeing.
A Storyfi summary of the Twitter discussions about the conference has been developed.
Event publications
Presentations
Keynote speakers
Powerpoint presentations and filmed talks:
- Opening comments: Health and the natural environment – Sue Goodfellow (recording – 10mins)
- The current strategic context for sustainability and health – Nigel Acheson (recording – 16mins) and James Mapstone (recording – 14mins)
- Afternoon Welcome – Caroline Jessel (recording – 4mins – please excuse the buzz!)
- LNPs: releasing the potential of natural capital – Pam Warhurst (recording – 10mins)
- Embedding sustainability into programme and policies at every level – David Pencheon (recording – 25mins)
Workshops
Powerpoint presentations:
- Health and the City – Shelly Dewhurst and Siobhan Farmer
- The natural environment. Restoring hope to young lives – Graham Carpenter and Aonghus Gordon
- Supporting those living with dementia through nature – Hannah Elton-Wall and Julie Hammon
- Growing upwards and onwards – Sara Venn and Julie Plumley
- Tackling mental health and wellbeing through outdoor programmes – Gary Mantle
- The evidence base: A dose of nature – Dan Bloomfield
- The Green Gym: the recipe for success – Craig Lister
- Unlocking the health benefits of local natural capital – Dom Higgins
- Building healthy places to live: green infrastructure – Gemma Jerome
- The economic case for integrating health and the environment – Dan Black
Film
A short film about the conference has been produced.
Next Steps
The SW LNPs are continuing to work with colleagues from the South Region Sustainability and Health Network (including Public Health England and NHS England) to continue to raise the awareness of the benefits of using the natural environment to improve health and wellbeing in the delivery of the Sustainability and Transformation Plans and we hope to develop some guidance documents on commissioning health services in nature.
