Green Light Trust joins Natural England to host networking event at the Food Museum in Stowmarket

A networking and workshop event is set to bring organisations together to explore new ways to strengthen the nature-based wellbeing sector.

Green Light Trust has joined forces with Natural England to host the event at the Food Museum in Stowmarket tomorrow.

A range of providers of nature-based interventions from across the East of England will be in attendance with the goal of the day to share experiences, celebrate successes, discuss challenges and work towards growing the impact of nature-based initiatives.

Lauren Shand, chief executive at Green Light Trust, said: “We are excited to bring together organisations from across the sector for a day of collaboration at the Food Museum, in partnership with Natural England.

“While at Green Light Trust we have been engaging people in nature for over 30 years, it’s wonderful to have the opportunity to bring organisations together and unite our expertise so we can strengthen the sector and drive forward real change regarding support for our communities.

“This event is the start of a conversation to strengthen our roots as a sector and to push forward together.”

Green Light Trust is an environmental education charity in East Anglia that uses nature to support wellbeing and education. Its woodland-based programs help children, young people and adults with mental health challenges, disabilities or additional needs to rebuild their lives.

According to the charity, around 20 per cent of children aged 7 to 16 had a probable mental health condition in 2023, up from 12 per cent in 2017.

In response, the NHS spent £16 billion on mental health services in 2022/23 — representing 14 per cent of local NHS funding allocations.

However, growing evidence suggests that nature-based social prescribing can improve mental and physical health while reducing loneliness.

Caroline Emmerson, principal officer at Health and Environment at Natural England, said: “We know there is strong evidence for the link between better health and time spent in nature.

“Natural England is delighted to support this important event and the ambition to improve the provision of Green Social Prescribing across our region.

“I look forward to taking part and sharing the learning, insights and wider evidence on the health benefits of nature with our partners.”

The event will feature a panel of professionals discussing wellbeing and related topics with Caroline Emmerson, from Natural England, sharing insights from the first phase of the ‘National Cross Government Programme: Preventing and Tackling Mental Ill-health through Green Social Prescribing’.

Attendees will have opportunities to contribute throughout the day including at an ‘Ideas Table’ which will display quotes and feedback from participants supported by nature-based initiatives.

Catering will be provided by the Food Museum and the day will conclude with a review of next steps, aiming to strengthen and expand the network of providers across East Anglia.

Marie Taylor, events manager at the Food Museum, said: “We are proud to host this event as partners with a shared vision and at the same time sharing our beautiful natural setting for this important day.

“Through partnerships with others, in academia and business, we seek to become part of the national conversation about the environment and how our food is grown, produced and its future in the UK and the effects on our health.”