Background

Greenspace programmes are outdoor initiatives designed to support physical and mental wellbeing. Activities may include gardening, conservation activities, hiking, and forest walks, among others. With rising concerns about substance use and mental health in Scotland, greenspace programmes could offer person-centred approaches to support as emerging evidence suggests positive outcomes for those with substance dependence while taking part. However, there is limited understanding about why programmes work which, in turn, makes replication and continued successful implementation challenging.

Previous work from the research team (see article below, and click to open/read it) allowed development of an initial theoretical framework seeking to explain causal pathways. The current project is based on this previous work and has sought to move theory into practical guidance.

This project

In this current project, through an iterative research process across two work packages, we first refined the initial theoretical framework through qualitative interviews to better integrate the voices of people with lived experience, consideration of outcome measures, and inclusion of post-programme support pathways (Work Package 1). We then undertook further interviews to move the theoretical framework into practical guidance for those wanting to set up a new greenspace programme for people with poor mental health and substance dependence (Work Package 2). In WP2 we also qualitatively explored proposed outcome measures from WP1 for acceptability and feasibility. People we interviewed included programme participants, programme staff/volunteers, wider health professionals, and local decision makers such as commissioners. After these interviews and manual development, the manual was then reviewed extensively by our advisory groups, the project team, and by organisations we worked with across the project. This allowed numerous iterations of the output, ensuring it was acceptable from the point of view of a range of stakeholders, and had the best chance of impact.

The manual was developed alongside the Graphics team and is made up of three components:

• the main service delivery guidance manual providing detail around key considerations in how to set up/refine nature-based programmes for people with poor mental health and substance dependence;
• an evidence-based evaluation guidance document synthesising how to potentially measure outcomes, as well as consideration as to whether these are acceptable from the POV of service users;
• a buy in/engagement guidance document designed to support initial conversations between potential participants, referrers, link workers, and/or support workers. 

The documents are all relevant for practitioners and organisations interested in developing and implementing a greenspace programme to support service users, and provide a flexible framework that is adaptable to local context. In WP3, knowledge exchange events have been held to share the manual outputs. These have been successful for discussing how best to disseminate it widely, and for discussing next steps (including collaboration and future funding).

.

Further methodological detail

Further academic articles describing the methodological approach for the project will be added here as they are published.