Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/N005317/1
OPEN: To accelerate economic and social impact of NERC science in human health and wellbeing by improving and targeting knowledge exchange (EXTENSION)
Fellowship Award
- Fellow:
- Dr D Bloomfield, University of Exeter, Biosciences
- Grant held at:
- University of Exeter, Biosciences
- Science Area:
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Unknown
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Natural Resource Management
- Science Topics:
- Conservation Ecology
- Environment & Health
- Abstract:
- About this proposal This proposal is to extend an existing project for a year from September 2015. The project has developed working partnerships between: academics in different disciplines; charities, CICs and small businesses in nature conservation and interpretation; and the health system, particularly GP surgeries. The work has been concentrated in Cornwall. The aim has been to bring these different groups together so that they can learn what each has to offer, to answer questions about knowledge gaps, and to design and pilot new collaborative schemes. Project partners are all interested in the idea that referrals to, or prescriptions for, regular engagement with nature can help reduce chronic health conditions, improve wellbeing, and reduce costs to the health service. The nature prescription activities have been co-ordinated under the overarching banner of 'Dose of Nature'. The project has been running for 18 months, and has proved very popular. This proposal is to allow the current project to grow and to deliver some larger impacts that the original project did not foresee. What are the potential gains? Patients and organisations that have been involved in the pilots to date have identified gains in terms of personal health and wellbeing, reduced visits to the GP, and less drug use. We now need to know: the environmental gains and impacts of such work; how the cost savings be translated into income for nature management work; and how many jobs can be safeguarded or created through nature prescription? What's been achieved in the first 18 months? Six Dose of Nature projects have been designed, co-delivered, and are receiving referrals from primary care. They are collecting standardised data in changes in wellbeing. Blogs, articles, presentations and talks have raised publicity. Academic papers have been commissioned and submitted. Detailed research questions have been refined. Local, regional and national stakeholders have been engaged and potential additional work identified. What next? To realise this potential the following activities will be delivered (see Work Plan): - Build a new research programme. A proposal to PenCLAHRC, the south west region's partnership between the NHS and the region's universities to look at improving patient outcomes, has already been accepted. A proposal to the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has been shortlisted and accepted for development. An application to the Eden Project Collaboration Fund has been submitted. This proposal will allow all of these activities to be taken forewards. In addition the project will be involved in the imminent call for proposals to the Valuing Nature Programme (VNP - a multidisciplinary initiative), and this extension will ensure project integration. A paper to be submitted to The Lancet is in early draft. - Making a bigger impact. By summer 2016 we will have the data, research and a wide enough practitioner network to run the UK's first 'Nature Prescription Summit'. The aim will be to bring Defra, the RSPB, the Eden Project, NIHR, DoH, VNP, King's Fund, researchers and knowledge exchange specialists together with our practitioner network, to report on progress and plan for the future. We also want to carry out new Environmental Impacts and Health Economics Projects, launch a Commissioning Guide, and present our work to Defra's health and wellbeing project. - Expand the network. We have identified new nature prescription partnerships in Exeter and Torbay (Devon Wildlife Trust), Weymouth (RSPB) and Bristol (Avon Wildlife Trust and a series of community gardens) to repeat the current project model in urban contexts. In addition we will run two new groups in Cornwall that will be funded from the health budget, a vital next step. We also want to expand the network via a webinar alongside the Ecosystems Knowledge Network, and by engaging with the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare Fellows.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/N005317/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Knowledge Exchange Fellowships
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- KE Fellows
This fellowship award has a total value of £62,659
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Exception - Other Costs | DI - Staff |
|---|---|
| £23,121 | £39,538 |
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