Connecting Nature and Our Next Generation
What is it?
Nature Connect is a county-wide demonstration pilot designed to create a step-change in how people across Cheshire and Warrington access, engage with and benefit from nature-based activity.
The project responds to a growing disconnect between people, nature and health systems, despite the county already having a rich network of parks groups, wellbeing walks, community growing spaces, conservation volunteering, outdoor recreation and nature-based wellbeing activity. Many of these groups currently operate below capacity, lack visibility and are difficult for residents and health professionals to access or navigate.
Nature Connect will create the missing infrastructure between people, nature and health systems through a county-wide, quality-assured directory of nature-based opportunities, integrated mapping, coordinated communications and stronger health and care referral pathways.
The programme is designed as a scalable county model that connects environmental investment directly to measurable health, wellbeing and social outcomes.
Why is this needed? / Why are we doing this?
Health inequalities across Cheshire and Warrington remain significant, with access to nature often lowest in the communities that would benefit most.
National evidence demonstrates strong links between access to nature and improved mental health, reduced loneliness, healthier lifestyles and lower preventable mortality. A 2026 national analysis found significant improvements in wellbeing, life satisfaction and anxiety following social prescribing referrals, with an estimated social value return of approximately £9 for every £1 invested.
At the same time:
- Nature-based groups often lack visibility and sustainable membership
- Health and care services lack a trusted referral platform
- Delivery remains fragmented and short term
- Existing grassroots assets are underutilised
Nature Connect has been developed to create a shared county-wide infrastructure that supports prevention, social prescribing, environmental stewardship and long-term community resilience.
What is it going to deliver?
A Living County Directory of Nature-Based Opportunities
The programme will create:
- A comprehensive, quality-assured county-wide directory of nature-based opportunities
- Direct engagement with providers to assess capacity, accessibility and inclusion needs
- Long-term self-managed listings enabling sustainable delivery
- Improved visibility for community and environmental organisations
- Mapping Access to Nature
The programme will deliver:
- User-friendly mapping of accessible green and blue spaces
- Identification of transport links and inclusive routes
- Support for self-referral and social prescribing
- Integration with post-hospital and adult social care pathways
- County-Wide Awareness Campaign
The initiative will include:
- Coordinated digital and social media campaigns
- Professionally produced promotional film content
- Communications materials for GP surgeries, pharmacies, libraries and public spaces
- Public campaigns normalising nature as part of everyday health and wellbeing
- Health and Care Integration
The programme will actively engage:
- GP practices and Primary Care Networks
- Adult social care teams
- Hospital discharge pathways
- Voluntary and community sector organisations
- Social prescribing partners
The project aims to strengthen long-term community pathways rather than short-term isolated interventions.
Estimated Cost:
£250,000–£300,000 (Over 3 Years)
Project Location:
Across Cheshire and Warrington.
County-wide nature connection, health and wellbeing infrastructure programme.
Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Warrington.
Three-year demonstration pilot with long-term scalability ambitions.
Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Groundwork, Public Health, University of Chester, NHS partners, Cheshire East Council, Warrington Borough Council, Active Cheshire, TCV, Canal & River Trust, Chester Zoo.
Why Invest Now?
- Growing national focus on prevention and social prescribing
- Strong evidence linking nature with improved health and wellbeing outcomes
- Increasing pressure on health and care systems
- Existing grassroots infrastructure already in place but underutilised
- Strong alignment with LNRS, NHS and health inequality priorities
- Opportunity to create a scalable county-wide model for nature-based engagement
- Creates long-term social, environmental and economic value from existing natural assets
- Strengthens the sustainability and resilience of local community organisations
Nature Connect represents an opportunity to transform how people, health systems and nature interact across Cheshire and Warrington, creating a scalable model that connects environmental recovery directly with healthier communities and long-term preventative value.
Impact and Returns:
Health & Wellbeing Returns
Research evidence linked to nature-based interventions demonstrates:
- Improved mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Reduced loneliness and social isolation
- Improved quality of life
- Increased physical activity
- Improved management of long-term conditions
- Reduced preventable mortality
- Increased life satisfaction and reduced anxiety
The programme also supports preventative health approaches aligned to social prescribing and community-based wellbeing models.
Social & Community Returns
- Increased participation in nature-based activity
- Greater connection between people and nature
- Improved access to nature in deprived communities
- Stronger grassroots organisations and volunteer networks
- Increased community resilience and social cohesion
- Improved visibility and sustainability of local groups
Environmental Returns
- Increased stewardship of parks, waterways and natural spaces
- Greater public support for nature recovery
- Increased use and understanding of green and blue infrastructure
- Stronger connection between environmental investment and lived community benefit
Economic & Strategic Returns
- Estimated social value return of approximately £9 for every £1 invested through social prescribing
- Reduced pressure on health and care systems through prevention pathways
- Improved return on investment from existing community and environmental assets
- Shared county infrastructure reducing duplication and fragmentation
- Scalable and replicable model for future commissioning and investment
Evaluation & Evidence
The University of Chester will co-design an independent evaluation framework to assess:
- Individual wellbeing and behaviour change
- Long-term value of group-based nature activity
- Sustainability and resilience of community organisations
- Participation and access patterns
- Impact on environmental stewardship and community resilience
The Programme Will Also Collect
- Participation and engagement data
- Referral pathway information
- Community case studies
- Volunteer and provider feedback
- Evidence linked to health, wellbeing and prevention outcomes
LNRS Priorities and Actions / LNP Goals:
The programme directly supports the Cheshire & Warrington Local Nature Recovery Strategy through:
- Increasing connection between people and nature
- Supporting collaborative and joined-up delivery
- Strengthening nature-based health and wellbeing outcomes
- Mainstreaming nature recovery into health, education and community systems
- Supporting urban green space and blue-green infrastructure engagement
This project aligns with the following Cheshire Local Nature Partnership goals:
Goal One
Increase contribution of nature-based solutions to address the ecological and climate crises.
Goal Two
Increase connection between people and nature including raising awareness of nature.
Goal Four
Mainstream nature recovery to ensure Cheshire becomes nature positive by 2030.
The initiative also aligns strongly with:
- Cheshire & Merseyside ICS prevention priorities
- Social prescribing strategies
- Health inequalities agendas
- Community resilience and VCSE sustainability priorities
- Healthy placemaking and preventative health approaches
GET INVOLVED
Contact the Cheshire Nature Local Partnership
Invest in nature
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Offset your carbon impact
Need to offset your carbon impact locally or acquire Biodiversity Net Gain units for development and large infrastructure projects?
Corporate opportunities for volunteering
Need corporate opportunities for volunteering or does you wish to adopt a nature recovery project or community action?
We can help you find opportunities the right opportunities across Cheshire. Contact us today to get involved in the Local Nature Partnership or to find out more.