Page 15 - The Land Trust Annual Review 2018

Health Land Trust Annual Review 2018

Our Health
for Life
programme
at Countess
of Chester Health for Life There was a 100%
Country Park
was a great Our two year Health for Life project at Countess increase in the number
success of Chester Country Park was a massive success of people who took
with participants reporting huge improvements
in their physical and mental well-being. part in health activities
on our sites in 2017/18,
The evidence about the positive benefit “ The Countess of The £70,000 programme which was funded
of green space to our physical and by the Cheshire Wirral Partnership NHS with more than 40,000
mental health has continued to grow. Chester Country Park Trust, The Big Lottery, The Mersey Forest people getting involved
is a major success story and Cheshire West and Chester Council,
With the NHS in a financial crisis we recognise saw nearly 700 different events and sessions
that we have a unique opportunity to improve and the Health for organised at the park for the public and
the physical and mental health outcomes Life programme has NHS staff from the nearby hospital. Social prescribing
of local residents by encouraging the use resulted in hundreds of At the Land Trust Managing Partners Awards,
of greenspace as an alternative to Working with the Natural Health Service Centre delegates heard from Craig Lister, managing
traditional treatments. people enjoying this of Excellence which includes both the University director of Green Gym, who spoke about the
fantastic green space of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores benefits of social prescribing.
on their doorstep. University, the activities were academically
evaluated, measuring participant’s health at the A means of enabling GPs, nurses and other
start and end of an 8-12 week programme. primary care professionals to refer people to
“ We know people feel a range of local, non-clinical services, social
healthier and happier The results were very positive. prescribing is designed to support people with
when they’re outside, In virtually all cases, due to the activities we a wide range of social, emotional or practical
needs, with many schemes focusing on
enjoying our spaces ran, participants physical and mental health improving mental health and physical well-being.
and taking part in significantly improved. There was a dramatic
activities on our sites.” reduction in the time participants spent sitting The Land Trust is well positioned to help with the
delivery of Green Gym based on the outcomes
each day with a corresponding leap in vigorous
Euan Hall, Chief Executive physical exercise of nearly 60 percent. we regularly deliver across the country already.

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