Nature-based activities to support mental ill health (GREENGAGE): protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial and process evaluation

Caroline Jenkinson; Katie Gibbs; Rebecca Lovell; Alison Hurst; Kerryn Husk; Katrina Wyatt; Obioha C. Ukoumunne; Siobhan Creanor; Anne Spencer; Ruth Garside

doi:10.1186/s40814-026-01917-4

Nature-based activities to support mental ill health (GREENGAGE): protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial and process evaluation

Caroline Jenkinson
, Katie Gibbs
, Rebecca Lovell
, Alison Hurst
, Kerryn Husk
, Katrina Wyatt
, Obioha C. Ukoumunne
, Siobhan Creanor
, Anne Spencer
, Ruth Garside

Peninsula Medical School

University of Exeter

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Anxiety and depression are among the leading mental health difficulties worldwide. Nature-based interventions are increasingly being used to support mental health and wellbeing. There is growing policy interest in the use of nature as a setting for interventions. However, there remains a lack of robust evidence on their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.

Original language	English
Journal	Pilot and Feasibility Studies
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-026-01917-4
Publication status	Published - 17 Sept 2026

Keywords

Pilot RCT
Social prescribing
Nature-based interventions
Anxiety
Depression
Wellbeing
Primary care

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10.1186/s40814-026-01917-4Licence: CC BY

s40814-026-01917-4_referenceFinal published version, 2.49 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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AU - Jenkinson, Caroline

AU - Gibbs, Katie

AU - Lovell, Rebecca

AU - Hurst, Alison

AU - Husk, Kerryn

AU - Wyatt, Katrina

AU - Ukoumunne, Obioha C.

AU - Creanor, Siobhan

AU - Spencer, Anne

AU - Garside, Ruth

PY - 2026/9/17

Y1 - 2026/9/17

N2 - Anxiety and depression are among the leading mental health difficulties worldwide. Nature-based interventions are increasingly being used to support mental health and wellbeing. There is growing policy interest in the use of nature as a setting for interventions. However, there remains a lack of robust evidence on their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.

AB - Anxiety and depression are among the leading mental health difficulties worldwide. Nature-based interventions are increasingly being used to support mental health and wellbeing. There is growing policy interest in the use of nature as a setting for interventions. However, there remains a lack of robust evidence on their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.

KW - Pilot RCT

KW - Social prescribing

KW - Nature-based interventions

KW - Anxiety

KW - Depression

KW - Wellbeing

KW - Primary care

UR - https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/pms-research/2068/

U2 - 10.1186/s40814-026-01917-4

DO - 10.1186/s40814-026-01917-4

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JO - Pilot and Feasibility Studies

JF - Pilot and Feasibility Studies

ER -

Nature-based activities to support mental ill health (GREENGAGE): protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial and process evaluation

Abstract

Keywords

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