Nature Prescription Pilot Program

Nature Prescription Pilot Program: Tree Pit Pocket Gardens 

Do you have patients for whom you would like to prescribe a meaningful practical activity? Then take advantage of the free offer of this nature prescription pilot program from the University of Freiburg and the city of Freiburg supported by the Institute of General Medicine.

This pilot program will introduce a nature-based prescription program in Freiburg, Germany in order to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities while also increasing urban biodiversity.

What is it?

Nature-based prescribing (NBP), also known as green social prescribing, is a way for health professionals to connect people to nature-based activities for practical, social and emotional support. The NBP in this study will be to garden a street tree pit in collaboration with the Freiburg Packt an Baumpatentschaft program.

Who?

Any individuals who are at risk for future health-related problems because they

• lead an inactive lifestyle
• are isolated, lonely or lack purpose
• have mild to moderate mental health issues
• are at risk of developing or already have developed non-communicative diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or mild dementia

How?

1. The consultation and prescription is carried out by a family doctor in the first stage. The physician identifies patients who may benefit from participation and issues a prescription (with researcher-supplied materials).
2. Second stage connects the patient to the researcher and the Freiburg Packt An Baumpatentschaft program. Researcher surveys and interviews patients as well as measures biodiversity in sponsored tree pits before, during, and after the 12 month timeframe. Support is provided by Freiburg Packt An and the Eco-station, in the form of materials, education, plants and seeds, and weekly office hours.

Why?

Nature is “our greatest source of health and wellbeing” and enhancing biodiversity is essential to sustaining healthy people, communities, and the planet. (CBD 2020) Because 70% of the global human population is predicted to live in cities within the next 30 years (WHO, 2016a), and with research suggesting that cities can significantly contribute to regional biodiversity (Spotswood et al. 2021), it is critical to identify and develop sustainable and symbiotic interventions to combat health issues related to urbanization.

The objectives of this research project are:

1. To assess the impact a nature prescription pilot program may have on personal well-being and nature-connectedness as well as urban plant biodiversity.
2. To examine barriers and opportunities to establishing a nature-based prescription program in Germany.
3. To offer an alternative, wholistic approach to health and care in order to address social and ecological determinants of health.

This project is transdisciplinary project in which the following individuals and institutions are involved:  

Benefits

The physicians and practices receive

• Materials and support from the researcher, including a customized prescription pad and printed educational flyers and pamphlets
• Follow-up information regarding the patient
• Doctors who participate in the second phase of this research project (Examining barriers and opportunities to establishing a nature-based prescription program in Germany) will be compensated €50-100 per interview. 

The patients receive

• A home visit from the researcher
• Inclusion in the Freiburg Packt An Baumpatentschaft program, with direct support from the FPA administrator
• Materials, education, and social support from the Eco-station

Time required

• For doctors: The time required for the identification, informing and recruitment of patients is estimated at max. 10 minutes for an individual case. Cases can be identified during routine consultations. No requirements concerning the minimum amount of patients. For doctors who participate in the second phase of this research project (Examining barriers and opportunities to establishing a nature-based prescription program in Germany), surveys will take approximately 15 minutes and interviews approximately 30 minutes. (Note: Doctors are not investigators nor part of the study team.)
• For patients: The time required depends on the individual’s level of engagement, and there is not a required or set time commitment. Ideally the patient spends approximately 20 minutes three to four times per week gardening their tree pit pocket garden. Surveys, which will be carried out three or four times while participating in the intervention, will take approximately 10 minutes each time. Interviews will take approximately 30 minutes.