Future Calling Ltd
Plumpton College
A Review of the Initiatives Linking the Protected Landscape to Health and
Wellbeing in the South Downs National Park
Carried out on behalf of the shadow South Downs National Park Authority,
Natural England and the South Downs Joint Committee
by
Plumpton College
Future Calling Ltd
The University of Brighton
March 2010
Contributors
Becky Taylor, Plumpton College.
Belinda Heys, Future Calling Ltd.
Andrew Church, Hannah Macpherson, Neil Ravenscroft and Niall Burnside,
University of Brighton.
Contact Details
Becky Taylor
Plumpton College
Ditchling Rd
Plumpton
BN7 3AE
Becky.taylor@plumpton.ac.uk
CONTENTS PAGE
Page
Executive Summary
3
1. Project Background
2. Project Objectives
3. The Process
6
7
8
4. Current Provision
4.1 Summary of Current Provision
4.1.1 Education Programmes
4.1.2.For people with physical and learning disabilities
4.1.3.Walking Schemes
4.1.4.Bushcraft
4.1.5.Care Farming
4.1.6.Conservation Programmes
4.1.7.For people with mental health difficulties
4.2 Conclusions
9
10
10
13
15
19
21
22
23
24
5. Demand
25
5.1 Introduction
5.2 What do we mean by demand?
5.3 Demand and barriers to accessing the countryside
5.4 The organisations surveyed, and the summarized results of the
survey
5.5 Summary of Demand
5.6 Conclusions
5.7 Examples of good practice in eco health provision outside the
National Park boundary
25
26
26
27
28
32
32
6. Barriers in developing the South Downs as an eco-health resource
34
7. Recommendations
38
References
42
Appendix 1:
Interview Schedule - current provision
Appendix 2:
Interview Schedule - demand.
Appendix 3:
Demographics and Strategic Commissioning Priorities
South Downs Eco-Health Report
2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The South Downs National Park Authority and Natural England commissioned
Plumpton College and the University of Brighton to undertake an audit of current
eco-health activity within the new South Downs National Park boundary and an
analysis of potential demand for such activity. The aim of the project being to Identify
gaps in provision and opportunities where the natural environment of the SDNP
could help deliver substantial social gains.
The key barriers to developing the South Downs as an eco-health resource were:
B1: Inadequate information on eco health opportunities within the South Downs
National Park area
B2: Poor recruitment and lack of training for volunteers.
B3: Lack of transport links into the park, and poor rural transport links within the
park.
B4: A lack of promotion of the health benefits of participating in activities currently
delivered within the park
B5: An absence of specific reference to eco-health in relevant plans and
documentation
B6: Difficulty accessing funding for establishing and developing eco health schemes
B7: Lack of access to key resources within the park for specific activities.
B8: Lack of facilities in the park
B9: Lack of current provision for particular user groups
B10: A shortage of opportunities to participate in some activities
B11: A lack of schemes specifically for Park residents
B12: A shortage of residential holiday places
B13: Coordination relating to educational eco health schemes
From these barriers it was possible to identify 10 recommendations for future work,
including cross-cutting themes, which if developed will support eco-health activities
across the National Park.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1) Better provision of information to improve understanding and use (B1, B4,
B5).
A new resource is required in order to:
 raise awareness of the high quality environment and its potential health
benefits
 provide information on opportunities for participating in eco health activities
 promote the health benefits of existing activities
2) Research and partnership working to assist providers with accessing
resources and obtaining funding (B6, B7, B13).
South Downs Eco-Health Report
3
In order to address the difficulties currently facing providers with regards to funding it
is essential that a mechanism is in place that facilitates partnership working.
 Further research needs to be carried out to establish the health benefits of
participating in specific eco health activities to provide the robust evidence
required for funding applications.
 There is a need for a forum across the national park area for eco health
providers to work in partnership to facilitate access to physical, human and
financial resources.
 An education sector working group should be established to share best
practice, enhance future provision and undertake research into the use of
the SDNP as an outdoor classroom.
3) Increasing provision for training and education of volunteers (B2).
There is a need to provide short, low cost or subsidised training courses aimed at
volunteers who wish to gain a working knowledge of the skills needed to work on
eco-health schemes.
4) Improving transport links from areas with high population local to the
national park and improving links within the park itself (B3).
The review of demand and commissioning organizations suggest that the SDNP will
only be able to address the need for further eco health provision if good public
transport links exist between the park and urban communities.
5) Development and improvement of small-scale facilities that support ecohealth activity within the National Park (B8).
Such facilities include signage, information boards, outdoor play areas for children,
restaurants with toilets suitable large enough to seat at least 40 people for tea, areas
with flat paths suitable for the elderly and those with disabilities to walk on without
fear of falling.
6) Developing provision for specific user groups (B9)
Certain user groups, such as those with mental health difficulties, currently have
fewer opportunities to engage in eco health activity within the National Park. This
gap can be addressed through:
 The provision of new activities and resources.
 Opportunities for the SDNP authority to link with schemes currently
being developed and rolled out.
 Existing schemes in other areas of the country that could be developed
in the park.
7) Addressing gaps in provision for some activities (B10)
Some activities such as Care Farming and Bushcraft could be further developed
within the park and this development has the opportunity to promote health benefits.
The National Park Board could work with organizations such as Sustrans, the
Environment Agency and commercial operators to link any proposed initiatives into
the eco health agenda within the park.
8) A ‘Healthy Living in the South Downs National Park’ initiative (B11).
The initial period of establishing the National Park provides an ideal opportunity to
establish a scheme that brings together all the opportunities for residents to engage
South Downs Eco-Health Report
4
in eco health activities and links to places such GP surgeries, businesses, schools
and community centres located within the boundary.
9) Developing three residential respite care facilities for children(B12)
There is a need for respite care facilities within the area as there is currently a
shortage of such provision.
10) Integrating Eco Health at the heart of the 21st century National Park
The establishment of a 21st century park encouraging people to visit and enjoy
the natural resource provides an opportunity to develop the park as a true
‘green lung’ for the South East.
South Downs Eco-Health Report
5
1. PROJECT BACKGROUND
Recent years have seen an increase in the gap between the healthiest and the least
healthy members of society, despite large amounts of money spent on healthcare i. It
is predicted that nine out of ten adults could be overweight or obese by 2050 and 4
million could have diabetes by 2025.ii
Although the South East is considered the healthiest region in England, one in six
residents currently has a mental health problem, the region has the third highest
sickness absence rate in England and within the South East region there is a fiveyear difference in life expectancy between areas with the worst and best life
expectancy. Many of the wards with the poorest mental and physical health statistics
are located along the South Coast, immediately adjacent to the South Downs
National Park area.iii
It is well established that exposure to natural places can lead to positive mental
health outcomes and that physical activity improves both physical and mental health.
It therefore follows that taking part in activities in green places (in the presence of
nature) will lead to positive health outcomes. Some of the current mental and
physical wellbeing challenges facing society could, then, be addressed by increasing
the population’s interaction with green places.
Eco-health initiatives offer a cost effective option for both prevention of and
recuperation from ill health. Natural England state that their Walking the Way to
Health scheme is helping to get over 200,000 people walking over a three-year
period. With direct costs of £11 million it is anticipated that this will save £81 million
in the costs of treating conditions such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. This
represents a saving of £7.18 in health care costs for every £1 invested iv. There are a
number of policies at both a national and regional level that refer to the role of the
natural environment in maintaining healthy lives and Natural England has also taken
on board the importance of health and well-being, including it as a goal within the
organisation’s strategic outcomes and supporting a number of initiatives linking
people to the environment for health benefits. Local delivery of national policy
objectives needs to address these local priorities and these are highlighted in the
South East England health strategy and the Natural England Health Position
Statement.
This has been recognised by a number of national Indicators (NI) adopted by local
government in the South Downs area such as NI 8: Adult participation in Sport and
Active recreation, NI 119: Self-reported measure of people’s overall health and wellbeing and N1 56: Obesity among primary school age children in year 6. The South
Downs Joint Committee (SDJC) has also reflected the need for considering the
potential health benefits in their business plan and has been instrumental in
developing a number of initiatives over recent years. There is still much scope to
both develop and enhance this activity.
The South Downs have long been recognised as a green-lung for the South East.
The confirmation of the South Downs as a National Park presents an opportunity to
promote the health agenda within the everyday core activity of the authority, thus
embedding eco-health at the heart of the 21st century National Park.
South Downs Eco-Health Report
6
2. PROJECT OBJECTIVES
Modern life has brought with it a number of changes in lifestyle, not least a decrease
in both physical activity levels and time spent outdoors. This has contributed to not
only a rise in obesity and other physical and mental health problems but also a drop
in ecological knowledge and understanding amongst the population. At the same
time a range of conservation and access legislation has designated a wide range of
land as being of value for outdoor recreational purposes.
The South Downs offer a natural environment of exceptional quality with a large
catchment population. The inception of the National Park provides an opportunity for
encouraging and increasing physical activity, and for engagement with the
environment to improve health and well being through schemes that specifically link
communities to the natural environment.
The objectives of this project were therefore to;
 Conduct an initial audit of the current level of provision of such activity in the
area
 Assess the current and potential demand for such provision expressed by
relevant public and voluntary organisations whose strategies on health and
wellbeing create a potential demand for eco health initiatives
 Identify gaps in provision
 Provide a basis for building a network of provision and providers
 Identify opportunities where the natural environment of the SDNP could help
deliver substantial social gains.
Map Showing National Park Boundary
South Downs Eco-Health Report
7
3.THE PROCESS
The methods used to achieve the aims included:
 Desk based analysis of information, academic papers, surveys and reports
obtained from websites, libraries and by telephone;

Telephone interviews and email surveys with stakeholder organisations
responsible for the delivery of eco health initiatives for communities local to
the SDNP.

Telephone interviews and email surveys with key public agencies and
charitable organisations responsible for commissioning eco health schemes
and referring potential participants
Desk Based Analysis
A concise review of the literature on the health benefits of the outdoors and relevant
national and regional plans was conducted. This set the project and process in to
context and assisted in the development of a series of key words. These key words
were then entered into a search engine in order to gain web-based information on
current eco health provision in the SDNP area. Further paper-based information was
also used. This analysis helped to determine the stakeholders, public agencies and
charitable organisations that were interviewed in the following stages of the process.
Further guidance was also provided by the project steering committee.
Telephone Interviews and Email Surveys with Stakeholder Organisations
delivering of eco health initiatives
These interviews and surveys took place in March 2010 and followed a
predetermined schedule (see appendix 1). Stakeholders were asked for information
relating to the nature of their client group, the number of participants, the location of
the activity and ways in which they would like help from the South Downs National
Park Authority and other organisations.
Telephone Interviews and Email Surveys with Key Public Agencies and
Charitable Organisations commissioning eco health schemes
These interviews and surveys were carried out in March 2010 following a
predetermined schedule (see Appendix 2) with the opportunity for further probing
where appropriate. The purpose of these interviews and surveys was to gain a
picture of the situation with regards to demand for eco-health activities in the area.
Possible barriers to both commissioning and participation were also discussed
including public transport difficulties, attitudinal problems, lack of awareness and
information, lack of time or motivation, dependence on others and inadequate
facilities
The outputs from this process provided to the steering group included:
 This report
 A database of current eco health provision within the South Downs National
Park
 A GIS inventory of current eco health provision within the South Downs
National Park
South Downs Eco-Health Report
8
4. CURRENT PROVISION (within the National Park boundary)
For the purpose of collecting and analysing data on current provision initiatives were
categorised. Only schemes, projects and initiatives that include an explicit link
between health, well being and the natural environment were included in the audit.
Nevertheless a wide range of initiatives have been considered from well known
measures such as health walks through to less well publicised initiatives such as
bush craft courses and care farms. In all of these there is an explicit attempt to utilise
the natural environment to promote health and well being.
Categories of Eco-Health Schemes, Initiatives and Projects in the South
Downs National Park
Education Programmes
Schemes for people with physical disabilities / learning difficulties
Walking Schemes
Bushcraft
Conservation programmes
Schemes for people experiencing mental health difficulties
South Downs Eco-Health Report
9
4.1 Summary of Current Provision
4.1.1 Education Programmes
School Programmes
There is a wide range of programmes available to schools that specifically develop
health and wellbeing in children, ranging from encouraging sustainable travel to
school (with an emphasis on walking and cycling), to growing food in the school
grounds, to designing the schools grounds so that they offer opportunities for
exercise, and so that they also can be used as outdoor classrooms. In addition, there
are schemes that promote sustainability, schemes that promote healthy eating and
so on. There are other schemes that take place in the natural environment that could
potentially be explicitly linked to health, such as HLS educational access visits.
Map Showing Location of Education Programmes
Some of the programmes on offer to schools (some of which have been taken up by
schools based within the National Park area) include:
Earth Restoration Service and School Tree Nurseries Programme
Eco-Schools
The Food For Life Partnership
Fruitfull Schools
Garden Organic for Schools Project
Growing Schools
South Downs Eco-Health Report
10
Healthy Schools
Landscape for Learning
Natural England’s Big Wildlife Garden
The RHS Campaign for School Gardening
RSPB Wildlife Action Awards
Sustainable Schools Award
The vast majority of schools in East Sussex and West Sussex have sustainable
travel plans, with the numbers of children travelling to school sustainably increasing
year on year.
In Hampshire “The Ecology Group runs an annual Hampshire School Nature Watch
to encourage and teachers outdoors to discover wildlife in their school grounds. The
Ecology Group and Property Services are together trialling changes in routine school
grounds maintenance to increase biodiversity and promote nature study.
Architect and Design Services and Landscape, Planning and Heritage have
comprehensive programmes for the design and improvement of school grounds,
incorporating nature areas for children and wildlife. The Trailblazer Project, Outdoor
Centres, Education Centres and Country Parks all provide active outdoor learning in
the natural environment, supporting health and wellbeing alongside formal
education.”v
East Sussex County Council has an Outdoor Education Advisor, as does West
Sussex County Council. Hampshire County Council has an Outdoor Education
department with a specific area of the website devoted to Outdoor Education
activities available within the County. Outdoor Education Advisors meet regularly in a
South East region group.
It has been more difficult to ascertain the range of outdoor activities that schools are
engaging in outside the school gates and how much the Downs are being used. The
West Sussex Outdoor Health Officer reports that the Downs are used a lot by
schools and youth services for activities such as mountain biking, navigation,
camping and walking. Girl Guides make use of the Downs for walking and
orienteering, among other activities. The Sussex and Hampshire Wildlife Trusts both
offer outdoor education programmes to schools.
Recommendations
That the current level of use of the South Downs National Park as an “outdoor
classroom” for physical activities, conservation activities, and other activities
related to the curriculum be further investigated.
The following questions should be addressed:



How much are schools (i.e. early years, primary and secondary schools)
arranging trips into the Downs?
What are the barriers for schools?
What can the Authority do to assist schools in making the most of what
the National Park has to offer?
South Downs Eco-Health Report
11

Do the schools have a need to engage specialist providers to provide
specific eco-health activities? These may be short excursions,
experiences or courses (for example, ranging from a couple of hours to
a day) or longer, possibly residential or camping excursions.
We recommend that the National Park Authority consults a small group of
representatives from early years, primary and secondary schools based with
the National Park, to ask them the questions posed above.
In addition, we recommend that the South Downs National Park authority
explores ways of partnering with the Outdoor Education Advisors from the
counties and unitary authorities in or just outside the Park. Currently the
Advisors meet regularly in a South East region group.
Further Education Colleges and Universities
There are several land based further education colleges within and close to the
National Park offering a range of courses to participants 14yrs+. Although the
courses do not have an explicit link to health at present there is an opportunity to
develop this.
The local Universities of Southampton, Winchester, Portsmouth, Brighton and
Sussex all currently use sites in the SDNP for undergraduate work in geography,
ecology, biology, archaeology and sociology.
These universities are also
encouraging student volunteering in local communities as part of their community
engaged strategic goals, A number of student volunteers from Brighton and Sussex
universities are currently involved in eco health projects in the South Downs. This
may provide an opportunity to increase the number of volunteers in eco health
projects which the review of provision in this report suggests needs to be addressed.
Both the further and higher education establishments are ideally placed to offer
education and training in eco health related subjects and undertake further research
as identified in this piece of work.
Recommendations
In order to maximise the potential benefit of the location of FE colleges and
Universities within and around the park, the South Downs National Park
Authority should work closely with these organisations to take forward
research and development opportunities suggested in this report.
South Downs Eco-Health Report
12
4.1.2 Physical and Learning Disabilities
Current eco health provision for people with learning and physical disabilities in the
SDNP is offered by a number of different organisations including local and national
charities and educational establishments. Activities available within the park
boundary include farming, conservation activity, small animal care and horse riding.
Map Showing Location of Provision for People with Physical and Learning Difficulties
The following schemes have been identified:
Nourish Community Interest Company (Brighton, East Sussex)
Offer vocational training in catering and hospitality to adults with learning disabilities
and adults with mental health issues, including running an Organic farm at Stanmer.
There are currently approximately 60 participants in this scheme and the client group
is sourced from Social services, South Downs Housing, the Primary Care Trust,
Care Co-ops and other day service providers. The scheme is self-funded as a
community interest company
Lewes Railway Land Trust
14 Adults with learning disabilities visit the site one day a week and carry out
practical conservation activities. This is often referred to as ‘The Nature Corridors for
All’ team of adults with learning disabilities (they are twinned with a learning disabled
group in France). The group has been running for 6 years with 14 core members
sourced from social services and other local day care organizations in the Lewes
area.
The Minders working group also meets on the first Sunday of every month. This is a
general adult group that carries out practical conservation activities.
South Downs Eco-Health Report
13
Further Education Provision
Plumpton College
Plumpton College offers programmes for young people and adults with learning
difficulties through the Rural Pathways and Certificate in Land based Studies. The
programmes offer the opportunity to learn about different aspects of land based
studies such as agriculture, conservation and animal care. Both programmes recruit
to capacity most years with approximately 15 – 20 learners.
Brinsbury College
Brinsbury college offers a Land based Certificate in Skills for Working Life for young
people and adults with learning difficulties. Both programmes offer learners the
opportunity to gain experience in different aspects of land based provision.
The courses above are aimed at helping participants to gain entry to employment
and develop independent living skills.
Through implementation of their equality and diversity policies both colleges also
offer opportunities for participants with physical disabilities to enrol on any of their
programmes provided it is safe for them to participate.
Riding for the Disabled
The Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) offers children, young people and
adults with disabilities to take part in horse riding, carriage driving and vaulting at a
number of centres across the park. Founded as a national organisation in 1969 the
association is a registered charity and operates as a federation of almost 500
member groups across the country.
In terms of provision there are a number of different schemes available for people
with physical disabilities / learning difficulties within the park area although providers
noted that there was a demand for expansion of this provision in a number of cases
where schemes were oversubscribed.
Some providers also commented on the lack of facilities available within the park
such as footpaths suitable for wheelchairs, car parks with toilets, changing facilities
and signage.
Currently the provision is mainly located in the central and eastern areas of the park.
Anecdotal evidence would suggest that at the western end of the park there is
provision in the nearby cities of Portsmouth and Southampton and that the
convenience of locating schemes within these areas due to the proximity to large
populations and good transport links means there is little demand for new schemes
within the park boundary.
Recommendation
In order to discover whether the gap in provision to the western end of the
park is an issue further work is required to determine whether there is demand
from residents living in this area for developing schemes for those with
learning and physical disabilities.
South Downs Eco-Health Report
14
4.1.3 Walking Schemes
A significant number of regular led health walks take place fully or partially within the
South Downs National Park area. They are offered by a range of Primary Care
Trusts (PCTs) and local authorities including Adur, Arun, Brighton and Hove,
Chichester District Council, East Hampshire, Lewes, Mid Sussex, Petersfield and
Winchester. West Sussex PCT offers “A Step in the Right Direction”, a range of
independent walks (i.e. walks that are not led), distributing brochures (which contain
suggestions and maps for walks) through GP surgeries.
There are different regular health walk models, ranging from those that leave from
the same place every Monday, for example, to walks programmes that offer a
different walk, which begins at a different place each week, for example, at 10 a.m
every Thursday.
Map Showing Location of Walking Schemes
Some walks programmes are expanding (for example, Mid Sussex) and others find
that they have spare capacity on their walks (for example, Lewes). However, the
overall trend of the Health Walks programmes within the Park boundary is that the
programmes are expanding, both in terms of the numbers of people attending the
walks each week, and in terms of the number of days that Health Walks are offered
and the numbers of walks offered. Most participants find out about Health Walks in
their area through word of mouth, with a smaller number (no more than 10%) being
referred by their GP or other health practitioner (such as a Health Trainer). Anecdotal
South Downs Eco-Health Report
15
evidence from the audit suggests that GPs and health practitioners tend to refer the
majority of people to gyms in the first instance rather than onto health walks.
The majority of people taking part in Health Walks are over 50.
Health Walks co-ordinators are looking into ways of involving other social groups in
Health Walks. For example, in Adur a walks programme for parents starting at the
school gate has been introduced, called Stride Out, consisting of an hour’s brisk walk
(these do not take place in the South Downs National Park at present). In East
Hampshire, the Health Walks co-ordinator is working with Children’s Centres to offer
walks to parents and families. In Arun, the health walks co-ordinator has approached
existing groups/organisations such as the Women’s Institute and Children and
Family Centres, to recruit and train Health Walk Leaders, in order to expand the
range of people taking part in health walks. The majority of health walk leaders that
we spoke to mentioned the need to recruit and train new walks leaders, particularly
those with knowledge of the South Downs, nature, conservation, health and fitness.
Co-ordinators mentioned that parents, particularly young parents, prefer to join a
group of peers and fellow parents, and tend not to return if they are the only young
parent pushing a pushchair in a health walk made up of people over 50.
All health walks programmes are available on-line. Promotion of health walks is
mainly done through distributing the health walks programmes to GP surgeries,
libraries, etc. Other approaches taken are: In Petersfield the Health Walks
programme is working with Milletts, the retail sports wear chain, who are helping to
publicise the Health Walks programme, and in Brighton and Hove they run a
successful poster campaign with the Bus Company (e.g. posters about the health
walks posted in the Brighton and Hove buses). The majority of providers have found
that paid advertising does not really work, and have looked at other ways of
publicising Health Walk information. Chichester District Council’s Heartsmart walks
are now included (for free) in the “What’s On” section of the local newspaper. This
attracts new walkers to the scheme.
The question of providing other activities for walkers to “progress” on to was not a
particular focus for the majority of health walk co-ordinators who were consulted.
Progression from shorter walks to longer, more challenging, walks was definitely
something that all the health walk co-ordinators were ensuring was available to their
walkers. Other green exercise options offered in some areas are green gyms and
Nordic Walking (Age Concern’s Fit as a Fiddle campaign is offering free Nordic
Walking in Hampshire for the over 50s). Nordic Walking is offered as a “progression”
option in East Hampshire. The Health Walks co-ordinator in East Hampshire is
exploring the possibility of working with Run in England (www.runinengland.co.uk), in
the future to see if it might be possible to train group leaders and start some running
groups.
Health Walk groups outside the National Park boundary, such as those in
Eastbourne, Seaford and Peacehaven, do not regularly offer walks in the National
Park, but do offer one-off longer walks in the Park, ranging from once a year to up to
five times a year.
South Downs Eco-Health Report
16
There are also a few commercial walks providers, who offer walks with a specific
health focus.
In Surrey there is a Health Walks co-ordinating group which meets regularly to share
good practice and to co-ordinate and plan health walks in the county. Some health
walks leaders mentioned the need for walks co-ordination, and it would be worth
exploring the possibility of setting up such a Health Walks co-ordinating and
development group for the South Downs National Park area.
There is a lot of excellent provision with regard to Health Walks in the South Downs
National Park and walks co-ordinators are developing and exploring innovative ways
of expanding the range of people taking part in health walks. Currently gaps in
provision exist in several areas. The coastal town walking for health schemes do not
have regular south owns walks. The need for additional provision of walks for health
in the most western section of the South Downs would be worth investigating.
Currently there is activity taking place however it is difficult to map given that there is
no regular meeting places/start points within the park.
Recommendations
In order to offer better co-ordination of the many walking schemes currently
offered we recommend that the National Park authority establishes a South
Downs development forum made up of health walks co-ordinators and other
relevant people, in which to share good practice, the results of pilots, and coordinating walks programmes to ensure that the needs within each area are
met.
South Downs Eco-Health Report
17
4.1.4 Bushcraft
Bushcraft training and activities cover everything from survival in the wild, identifying,
preparing and eating wild food to creating a shelter, tracking skills, to woodcraft
skills, fire-making and campfire cooking. The health aspects of bushcraft are not
explicitly highlighted by the organisations offering bushcraft training, courses and
activities. However, there are obvious health benefits to learning how to survive, live
and feel at home in the wild, particularly for children and young people. “Wild or
wilderness experiences, as is true of nature and outdoors experiences in general,
are very important for the physical, emotional and mental development of children
and young people”.vi The potential of wilderness experiences for young people at risk
is, in addition, being increasingly recognised. The socially binding effects of doing
adventurous or challenging activities in the wild with other people is something that is
explicitly offered by the bushcraft leaders, for example, in offering team building
activities for groups of workers from organisations.
Map showing Location of Bushcraft Activities (not all activity is mapped as some
information is commercially sensitive)
Bushcraft activities, trainings, and experiences are offered by private commercial
providers and by charitable trusts, such as the Sussex and Hampshire Wildlife
Trusts. The courses tend to be aimed at adults (including offering away days and
team building events for companies), with providers also offering courses and
experiences to children, families and young people. One provider offers weekend
camping and canoeing courses specifically for either dads and sons, or mothers and
South Downs Eco-Health Report
18
daughters. Another provider offers Forest School and Outdoor Play schemes to
children.
A number of the providers offering programmes in the South Downs National Park
also offer vocational trainings to adults, for example, to become a Bushcraft
Instructor, or an apprenticeship in Modern Woodland, as well as CPD trainings for
Forest School practitioners. A provider based just outside the National Park offers
trainings for groups travelling to remote areas, for example, in first aid or exploration
medicine. One provider has worked with the West Sussex Youth Offender
department, offering tailor made rehabilitation courses for Young Offenders.
The following is a list of all the independent Bush Craft organisations offering
bushcraft courses and activities within the boundary of the South Downs
National Park. Bushcraft activities are also offered by the Sussex and
Hampshire Wildlife Trusts (for both adults and children):
Birchbark – Bushcraft, Canoes and Camps (Hampshire)
Birchbark offers various bushcraft & canoe activities, courses and camps, held
throughout the year. Birchbark offers experiential education packages that are
‘hands on’ and tailored around each person, family or group’s learning needs. Jay
Witt of Birchbark runs father/mother and son/daughter bushcraft/open canoe
coaching sessions, and similar courses for adults, in woodland on the South Downs
and on the River Hamble.
Forest Knights (Sussex)
Forest Knights specialises in teaching wilderness skills to people of all
abilities. Their focus is on developing a deeper understanding and appreciation of
the outdoor environment. Forest Knights offer courses in traditional wilderness skills,
wildlife-based courses for the budding naturalist, and management and team
development. Forest Knights also offer bushcraft courses/ experiences for children
and families.
Forest Knight’s site is just outside the South Downs National Park area (just south of
Arundel). However, they also run demonstrations and courses at Amberley Museum
and Heritage Site, which does fall into the SDNP area.
Hampshire Wildlife Trust
Hampshire Wildlife Trust offers bushcraft courses for adults, and a Forest School
programme for children. The events, courses, family days, holiday activities, and
curriculum related activities include a range of bushcraft skills and activities (from
navigating to identifying flora and fauna).
Red Deer (in partnership with Green Craft) – Midhurst, West Sussex
Red Deer offers both Bushcraft and Survival courses, nature observation and wildfood gourmet courses; all are designed and tailored as necessary to appeal to a
wide range of individuals, groups, families, clubs, or corporate parties across a wide
range of age groups and abilities. The courses are held on the Cowdray Estate
located near Midhurst, West Sussex close to the borders of Hampshire & Surrey.
Red Deer works in partnership with Green Craft. Green Craft offer bushcraft and
survival courses to schools, youth groups, colleges and universities.
South Downs Eco-Health Report
19
Safari Britain – Firle, East Sussex
Safari Britain offers weekends and weekdays of luxury camping with wildlife
adventures for groups of adults and children. Mainly groups of families book to
attend the safaris, although this year Safari Britain is also working with local schools
to offer day (i.e. not including camping) educational experiences.
Sussex Wildlife Trust
Sussex Wildlife has a Forest Schools programme which they offer to local schools.
In addition, they run Forest School Leader training courses. With regard to bushcraft
they offer courses for adults, family bushcraft days, and holiday club bushcraft
activities for children.
Woodcraft School Ltd. & Woodcraft Foundation, Midhurst, West Sussex
Woodcraft School are specialist providers of bushcraft courses in the UK from
beginner to instructor level. They offer courses in, for example, wild food, bow
making, bushcraft, primitive technology and canoe expeditions. Most courses are
based near Midhurst in West Sussex and are suitable for adults of 18+ although they
do sometimes allow younger ages at their discretion.
Woodcraft Foundation provides a selection of these courses to children. The
Foundation offers Forest Schools for children aged 5 to 13 (for local schools). “We
are now offering schools in the local area a chance to visit our site on a regular basis
using the Forest School method of teaching. Our site is set up with composting toilet,
a heated work area in the winter, easy access and controlled use of the 400 acres of
woodland we have to play and learn in.” From April 2010 the Foundation will be
offering Outdoor Play Schemes.
Overall, Bushcraft is an expanding area of eco health activity, serving the adult
market (with courses and vocational activities, away-day team building activities for
organisations, and customised events for private groups) and offering courses and
activities for children and young people. The majority of providers are small
commercial organisations, with the exception of the Woodcraft Foundation, a
Community Interest Company, and the Sussex and Hampshire Wildlife Trusts.
Recommendations
In order to increase the uptake of current bushcraft activities and to assist the
providers to make better use of all the natural resource available within the
park, the National Park authority could work with Bushcraft providers by
making their work more visible (through promotion and publicity). Some
providers are looking for suitable woodlands within the National Park area in
which to offer bushcraft activities and the National Park Authority may be able
to help by facilitating discussion between landowners and providers regarding
access. Providers mentioned the need for grants to enable them to continue to
offer bushcraft activities and the National Park Authority, along with other
organisations such as Natural England could work with both Bushcraft and
other eco-health providers to explore potential funding sources, develop
partnerships and assist with the bidding process.
South Downs Eco-Health Report
20
4.1.5 Care Farming
Care farming is the therapeutic use of farming practices. Care farms provide a range
of services for individuals and groups of vulnerable people including those with
mental health problems, learning disabilities and disaffected young people.
There are currently only three farms listed in East, West Sussex and Hampshire on
the National Care Farm Initiative website, none of which fall within the National Park
boundary. The main 'care' activity on regular family farms within the park is on an
informal basis and therefore not widely known. For example, New Farm Horizon
consultancy are currently in expansion discussions with a farmer at South Harting,
who is already taking 3 young people once a week.
New Farm Horizon has also identified a niche to encourage a relatively small care
enterprise (say 6 'farm helpers' one morning a week) on a typical family farm without
major structural change in contrast to the larger 'care farms' where care is clearly the
predominant and daily activity. The SDNP, with a high level of family farms including
sheep and woodland and increased social inclusivity arising from above average
visitor levels together with the need to generate further income to keep some smaller
farms going has major potential. Within the boundary of the National Park there are
currently around 50 farms of which New Horizons hope a proportion will consider a
'pilot' care enterprise in due course.
It is clear that despite the demand in the South East, the region is behind on
establishing recognized care farms when compared to most other regions in
England, particularly the West Midlands, hence the lack of establishments listed in
the SDNP on the NCFI website.
Recommendation
The resultant potential for care farms is being explored by New Farm Horizon
but there is an opportunity to develop a strategic approach to care farming in
the SDNP. In order to do this the South Downs National Park Board could work
in partnership with Natural England to commission the further research
required to explore the possibilities.
South Downs Eco-Health Report
21
4.1.6 Conservation Programmes
Conservation programmes are currently offered through BTCV and the Sussex
Wildlife trust. These schemes are not exclusive to people with any specific health
difficulty or disability hence they have been categorised separately to those in other
sections. Due to the nature of these programmes (they work on different locations
across the National park and in the surrounding areas) it is not possible to map these
activities.
BTCV Green gyms
The BTCV Green Gym initiative is a scheme in which leaders guide participants
through a range of practical conservation projects with the focus on improving both
their health and the environment at the same time. There are currently two Green
Gym schemes operating within the South Downs National Park Area.
Portslade Green Gym – meet once a week for 3 hours and work at a number of
sites across Brighton and into the national park, currently approximately 25+ people
participate on a regular basis. The group recruits members through word of mouth,
the BTCV website and they have a leaflet that they produce themselves. They
currently struggle to obtain small scale funding to enable them to, for example,
purchase new tools.
Wecock Green Gym – the group work on different sites in and around the Park in
Hampshire including Waterlooville and Wecock. They recruit members through word
of mouth, the BTCV website and the Havant Volunteer Bureau Website. Currently
there are only 5 regular members and they feel they would benefit from better
promotion of their scheme and the eco health opportunities it offers.
Sussex Wildlife Trust
Access to Nature
The Access to Nature in Sussex Project will work with people from deprived parts of
Hastings and Brighton & Hove and offer a broad range of activities and
encouragement to help them engage with nature and improve their local
greenspace. This is a three-year project, just initiated, with Lottery funding.
Recommendations
The current BTCV provision suffers from low numbers of participants and a
lack of small scale funding opportunities. As with Bushcraft the National Park
Authority could work with providers and other organisations to assist with
publicity and marketing, identifying funding opportunities, facilitating
partnership working and assisting with the preparation of funding bids.
South Downs Eco-Health Report
22
4.1.7 Mental Health
There are currently two schemes operating within the park boundary exclusively for
people with mental health difficulties.
Phoenix Futures
Phoenix Futures provide care and rehabilitation services for adults with drug and
alcohol problems in the UK. In partnership with Natural England, the National Trust
and a number of other organisations they run a unique and innovative Conservation
Therapy Programme. Volunteers from the Phoenix Futures’ substance misuse
treatment services work as a team to assist in the conservation of specific areas of
the countryside. One of these areas is currently Kingley Vale NNR. This particular
programme is run in conjunction with their Alpha residential service and in
partnership with the Sustainability Centre in East Meon.
Phoenix Futures conducted a piece of research that found that involvement with the
conservation therapy programme resulted in a 28% increased retention amongst
service users compared with those who were not involved, over a 12 week period.
Mind (Worthing and Arun branch) – currently have a ‘Get active’ programme. This
involves day centre visitors having the opportunity to take part in a number of ‘active’
activities. Two of these activities have a direct link to the environment. All
participants are 16 yrs+ and attend the Mind day centres. Details of the activities are
as follows:
Led walks, that take place in a number of different areas within the park. There is no
regular timetable as such and the locations are determined mainly by the knowledge
of the walk leader.
Coarse fishing, in partnership with the Environment Agencies fishery division,
participants currently go fishing in Berry, Steyning and Ashurst.
Given the statistics on mental health issues facing the South Coast there is currently
a lack of provision in this area. Providers indicated that it was often not appropriate
or possible for particular user groups to join in with more generic schemes.
Recommendation
In order to address the current lack of provision for this user group it is
recommended that the National Park Board work with current providers to
explore the possibility of expanding provision for this user group and
investigate the opportunities for developing new provision.
South Downs Eco-Health Report
23
4.2 Conclusions
Map showing Location of Eco Health Activity in the South Downs
Note: not all activity is shown due to the fact that some activity takes place at moving
locations and therefore cannot be represented
As can be seen on the map there is a range of provision currently operating within
the park boundary but certain gaps exist, particularly with regards to some user
groups. The map above does not show all activity as some of the provision, for
example conservation work and certain walking schemes, run in different locations
and therefore cannot be mapped in this way.
Schools programmes and health walks are, on the whole, well catered for and
geographically spread across the park. There is a concentration of activities around
Brighton and Hove. This can be accounted for due to the proximity of the park
boundary to the city. Fewer schemes are seen in the west of the park. This could be
due to the fact that the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton are located slightly
further from the park boundary. There is also a lack of schemes in the far east of the
park.
Currently health walk schemes are those best integrated into health care. Further
work could be done to raise awareness of such schemes with GPs and other
referrers in some areas. There is scope for the SDNP authority to work with PCTs to
develop green exercise schemes specifically for the prevention and management of
specific conditions (including post-operative rehabilitation programmes). None of
these specific schemes currently operate within the South Downs. Other provision
such as the Green Gym initiative could also benefit from better awareness amongst
the health profession.
South Downs Eco-Health Report
24
5. DEMAND
5.1 Introduction
Area Surveyed
When considering demand we focussed on a wider geographical area than that
covered by the South Downs National Park. This wider geographical area (outlined
in black on the map below) is a wide ribbon of land around the National Park, which
incorporates part of the Sussex and Hampshire coastal strip, including coastal cities
such as Southampton, Portsmouth, Brighton and Hove. This wider area was
focussed on as people from this wider catchment area are likely to be key users of
the Downs, even though the National Park is not necessarily right on their doorstep.
We focussed on three areas in considering demand for green exercise and ecohealth schemes within the South Downs National Park:
1. We looked in further detail at possible demand for the gaps in provision that
became visible through the audit of current provision.
2. We surveyed the commissioners for physical activity and/or obesity in all the
Primary Care Trusts that serve the National Park and its greater catchment
area and summarised the strategic commissioning priorities of all the PCTs
that serve the greater National Park area.
3. We surveyed key people from other organisations that fund, offer and
encourage eco health initiatives such as the County Councils and County
Sports Partnerships.
South Downs Eco-Health Report
25
5.2 What do we mean by demand?
The approach to demand that we have taken is one of looking at public health needs
across the area covered by the South Downs as expressed by relevant
organisations. We considered to what degree these health needs and related
funding sources will create demand for eco health initiatives from organisations and
members of the public in the SDNP and surrounding area. This approach has
enabled us to attempt to answer the following key questions relating to eco-health
initiatives:
 How can green exercise support the goals of different public and third
sector organisations to increase the health and well being of the
population as a whole, and the health and well being of specific groups
within the population?
 How can activities and facilities within the National Park help meet
strategic goals in health care, social care, education and sport and
recreation?
 How can these goals inform the priorities of the National Park Authority
so that in the future it can help develop the provision of an innovative
Natural Health Service to all sectors of the population living within the
greater National Park area?
5.3 Demand and barriers to accessing the countryside
Demand for eco-health initiatives in the SDNP will also be shaped by any barriers
that exist that limit the opportunities for those who would like to use the South Downs
for health related activities. Common barriers to accessing green spaces and the
countryside, identified through research include:

Many people currently experience real or perceived barriers to accessing
green space and the countryside. There is strong evidence of underparticipation in countryside recreation by young adults, low income groups,
people from minority ethnic and black groups, women, older people and
people with disabilitiesvii.
For under-represented communities (people with a disability, people from
minority ethnic communities; people living within areas of disadvantage) viii
barriers include:

Difficulties with public transport

Attitudinal problems (i.e. of the public towards some under-represented
groups)

Language barriers

Lack of access to appropriate information

Lack of awareness (of opportunities in countryside recreation)

Dependence on others (such as carers)

Lack of time or motivation

Poorly maintained paths
South Downs Eco-Health Report
26
Mosaic is a national project led by the Campaign for National Parks that aims
to build sustainable links between black and minority ethnic communities and
nine of the National Parks in England and the Youth Hostels Association. The
South Downs National Park authority will no doubt be consulting Mosaic
partners and other key national and local partners when developing its
inclusion strategy.

To increase social inclusion “The provision of new facilities or transport is
not sufficient; a more comprehensive and integrated approach is required to
increase the level of visiting from under-represented groups, including
increasing people’s understanding of and sense of belonging in the
countryside.”ix
Barriers to accessing the South Downs were also considered in our desk analysis
and surveys of PCTs and other key organisations. Many of the most deprived wards
in the South East lie just outside the boundary of the South Downs National Park and
it was felt by some of those interviewed that these communities may face a number
of economic, logistical and social barriers to accessing the SDNP. Key questions
considered in this report include:
How can the park serve these disadvantaged communities?
What needs to be put in place to make it easy and enjoyable for people to
travel into and spend time in the National Park?
A growing proportion of the population in the South East is made up of people over
65, and also those over 85. Some people in these age groups will also face barriers
to accessing the SDNP. Services both within the park and within the greater
catchment area of the park need to be designed include this group of the population.
Promoting good mental health and well being is a priority across all the primary
trusts in the region, and there area specific groups who suffer particularly from
mental health difficulties, such as the younger working age population in Brighton
and Hove and women over 65 in West Sussex.
5.4 The organisations surveyed about demand for eco-health schemes and the
summarized results of the survey
We consulted a range of public organisations with regard to gaps in current provision
and future demand, including what the South Downs National Park could do to help
them meet their priorities. We mainly consulted Physical Activity and Obesity
Commissioners in the Primary Care Trusts that serve the park, and we also
consulted people from Outdoor Education, Social Care, and the County Sports
Partnerships. The consultation took the form of either responding to an emailed
questionnaire, or a telephone interview. Relevant points from the surveys and
interviews have been included in the conclusions at the end of the section for each of
the PCTs (see appendix 3).
The following four needs came out strongly in the survey:
South Downs Eco-Health Report
27
1. The need for eco-health provision for particular groups
2. The need for good transport links into the park (including sustainable transport
options, such as cycling), particularly for disadvantaged communities situated
outside of the park boundary.
3. The need for taking a holistic approach to designing provision including how
information is provided (both before people get to the park and when they
enter the park) and education / assistance in giving families, children and
young people ideas of what to do in green spaces.
4. Survey respondents stressed the need for partnership working, in particular to
access funding for green exercise schemes and facilities within the park.
5.5 Summary of Demand
This table summarises the demand priorities of the organisations surveyed,
and highlights specific needs to be tackled in particular areas within or just
outside of the South Downs National Park:
Age /Group
Issues
Children
Increasing
physical activity
to tackle obesity
Families
Highlighted
by the
following
areas
All areas
Recommendations
Provision of
short breaks
East Sussex
That the families of disabled
children and young people be
consulted to get a clearer idea of
their needs and wishes in terms
of short break provision. Other
partners such as the PCTs and
the East Sussex Children and
Young People’s Trust should
also be consulted.
Increasing
physical activity
and use of
green and blue
spaces
All areas
That the SDNP work with NHS
Portsmouth, Healthy Pompey
and Portsmouth City Council to
pilot good information for families
and adults to inform them about
what the National Park has to
offer, and on-site in the National
Park offer play areas, information
boards, or play scheme coordinators to facilitate a variety of
forms of exercise in the park –
South Downs Eco-Health Report
To explore opportunities for joint
partnership
working
(for
example, with schools, third
sector organisations and local
authorities) to increase the
provision of outdoor play facilities
for children within the National
Park.
28
such as walking, running,
cycling, games, kite flying, green
gym activities and more.
Teenagers /
Young People
Young
working age
adults
Mental health
Drug and
alcohol misuse
Working age
adults over 35
with long-term
conditions
(including
mental health
disorders)
Working age
Increasing
adults over 40 physical activity
with long term
conditions
South Downs Eco-Health Report
Brighton and
Hove,
East Sussex
From
the
research
and
consultations conducted for this
report it is not yet clear what ecohealth provision is needed to
meet the needs of young people.
Further
research
and
consultation (with young people
as well as relevant third sector
and public organisations) is
needed to gain greater clarity,
followed by, if appropriate, the
piloting of one or more smallscale schemes in partnership
with other organisations.
Brighton and
Hove
To explore the piloting and
provision of eco-health activities
to improve mental health, and to
develop local eco-health
rehabilitation programmes for
drug and alcohol misuse.
To explore with BCTV whether it
would be possible to begin an
Ecominds “Wellbeing comes
Naturally” conservation group
(which would train people who
are experiencing mental distress
to become part of a group of
conservation volunteers).
Surrey
West Sussex
Care Farm provision (gardening,
care of animals, farming
activities, etc.) could also be
developed for adults suffering
from depression and other
mental health disorders.
Brighton and
Hove
To explore the possibility of
working in partnership with the
PCT, Brighton and Hove County
Council and Sussex County
Sports Partnership to pilot a
green exercise initiative for
working adults over 40 with long
term conditions.
29
Increasing
physical activity
Adults with
specific
health
conditions
Adults from 40 – Hampshire
74 with specific
vascular disease
risk factors
That the SDNP works with
Hampshire NHS to develop
specific
green
exercise
activities/schemes offered in the
National Park to fit into the
pathway
for
the
targeted
prevention of vascular conditions
(aimed at adults aged 40 to 74
with vascular disease risk
factors) as part of a range of
physical activity opportunities
available to this targeted group.
Hamphire NHS’s focus on the
prevention of vascular conditions
offers a good opportunity to pilot
green exercise provision for the
prevention and/or management
of a specific group of conditions.
Adults of
working age and
older who are at
risk from heart
disease and/or
stroke and
adults with heart
disease or who
have
experienced a
stroke.
Considering the higher incidence
of heart disease and stroke in the
city, we recommend working with
Southampton PCT to develop
and offer green exercise options
in the National Park to fit into the
care pathways for the prevention
or management of heart disease
and/or stroke (for at risk adults of
working age and older)
South Downs Eco-Health Report
All areas
Considering the expected growth
in the 65 – 74 age group in
Southampton, promoting green
exercise activities for those over
65 would be worth exploring.
Longer health walks, and other
forms of green exercise such as
Nordic Walking would be worth
investigating and piloting (for
example,
perhaps
through
working with Age Concern to
start
a
Southampton/South
Downs Fit as a Fiddle group), to
offer progression routes from the
health walks offered in and
around the city.
Older People
Southampton
30
Mental health
conditions
West Sussex
To build on and further develop
the Crawley
horticulture/conservation scheme
for people with mental health
issues, and roll this out to other
areas in West Sussex (targeting,
in particular, those in receipt of
sickness benefit who are
suffering from mental health
issues and women over 65
suffering from depression).
To pilot in the West Sussex
section of the South Downs
National Park a range of green
exercise
and
eco-health
provision for people of all ages in
West Sussex suffering from
mental health issues.
Adults with
learning
disabilities
To increase
provision for
physical
activities and
engagement
with nature and
the countryside.
Surrey
The general
population
Increase levels
of physical
activity
Improve
transport links
into the National
Park
Improve
physical access
to the park
All areas
Deprived
communities
Increasing levels West Sussex
of physical
activity
South Downs Eco-Health Report
For the SDNP to work with
partners to develop eco-health
provision for adults with learning
disabilities.
We recommend exploring the
development of one or more
Care Farms within the National
Park, close to the Surrey border
aimed at providing voluntary
work (either day provision or
residential provision) for adults
with learning disabilities.
That the Park Authority work with
Hampshire NHS (and other
relevant partners) to develop a
holistic approach to making the
National Park accessible and
attractive to those living outside
the park boundary in Hampshire,
particularly people from Gosport,
Havant and Rushmoor, in order
to increase the health and
wellbeing of the population and
reduce health inequalities.
To continue and build upon the
good work of the health walk coordinators in the priority areas of
Adur, Arun and Worthing.
31
5.6 Conclusions
The SDNP is well placed to host and/or deliver activities, schemes and facilities that
will meet demand that is likely to be generated by the commissioning priorities in the
PCTs and the subsequent responses by health practitioners e.g. GPs and the
general public. The analysis for this report suggests, however, that there are some
key issues that will need to be addressed if this is demand is to be met in the SDNP
and if all communities are able to take up new opportunities. These include:






Ensuring good sustainable transport links from seaside towns and cities,
such as Portsmouth, Southampton, Arun, Adur, Worthing, Eastbourne and
urban south Hampshire. There may have to be innovative third sector
transport provision in addition to or instead of ‘public transport’.
Good information provision for all potential user groups especially for
those living in deprived communities
Partnership working is developed with education and third sector
organisations who play a key role in developing links between young people
and outdoor sport and leisure activities in the SDNP.
A South Downs National Park “eco-health champion” is appointed as
soon as possible to begin working with the Physical Activity commissioners to
encourage the inclusion of eco-health as a priority within each new Physical
Activity commissioning plan.
Provision of short breaks for children and young people with disabilities
(including those with complex needs). Buildings or places used for daytrips and residential stays will need to be fully accessible for this client
group, their friends, carers and families.
Gaps in provision are addressed, especially relating to provision for
particular user groups, such as people with learning disabilities and people
with mental health problems in parts of the South Downs area. Such gaps in
provision could be addressed by following a similar model to successful
schemes running elsewhere in the country. Some examples include;
5.7 Examples of Good Practice in Eco Health Provision Outside the National
Park Boundary.
Growing Well, Cumbria
Growing Well is a care and social enterprise growing organic produce and delivering
accredited training in horticulture. The farm building and land are rented from a
tenanted National Trust farm.
Growing Well provides opportunities for people recovering from mental health
problems to volunteer in the business in order to develop their skills and confidence.
Using an application process rather than a referral process the farm treats the
volunteers as community members as opposed to patients.
South Downs Eco-Health Report
32
Providing around 2000 placements each year to around 50 volunteers 50% of
volunteers are paid for by Cumbria social services whilst the remaining 50% have to
be funded by a grant from a charitable trust.
(NCFI Case Study, http://www.ncfi.org.uk/case-studies.aspx )
Casting for Recovery
Casting for Recovery UK and Ireland is a non-profit support and educational
programme for women who have or have had breast cancer. They provide an
opportunity for women who have been affected by the disease to “gather in a
beautiful, natural setting and learn fly fishing … and offer an opportunity to meet new
friends and have fun”. By providing an avenue for social support and group
interactions there can be a reduction in the isolation survivors feel.
The weekend retreats provided by casting for recovery are offered at no cost to
participants and are open to any woman who has experienced breast cancer, subject
to medical clearance from their doctor.
Potential participants can contact the charity via their website or complete an
application form.
(http://www.castingforrecovery.org.uk/)
New You Boot Camps
A commercial enterprise the New You Boot Camps offer weight loss and fitness days
and short courses to adults at a range of locations across the UK. A range of
different courses are on offer including women and men only camps and military
fitness days. The emphasis is placed on getting fit in the open air with many of the
activities taking place outside. The fitness activities can be combined with cookery
and nutrition classes.
(http://www.newyoubootcamp.com/)
South Downs Eco-Health Report
33
6. BARRIERS TO DEVELOPING THE SOUTH DOWNS AS AN ECO-HEALTH
RESOURCE.
The following barriers and needs have been identified through the audit of current
provision and the survey/consultation process around demand. This may seem a
long list, but what it shows is that green exercise and eco-health schemes are in their
relative infancy in the park and that there many innovative ways in which the Park
Authority could work with partners and the public to provide much need services,
which would increase the health and wellbeing of different sectors of the population,
leading to long-term positive effects.
BARRIER
Reaching wider audiences
B1: Inadequate information
on eco health opportunities
within the South Downs
National Park area
NEED
There are several good county and National web
resources available. However there is currently no
‘one/first stop shop’ for gaining information on eco
health activities within the National Park. Given the
amount of existing activity, the request from providers
for help with marketing, and the lack of awareness of
some commissioners as to the opportunities available,
such a resource would be very valuable.
B2: Poor recruitment and Many organizations are currently overstretched and
lack
of
training
for there are insufficient funds for trained staff even to
volunteers.
organize health walks. Most non-commercial schemes
therefore rely on volunteers. Providers noted a
difficulty in recruiting trained volunteers who had
knowledge in three specific areas
1) The National Park – it’s access routes and sites
of interest
2) Conservation and environment
3) Health related issues
B3: Lack of transport links Lack of transport links to take people living in the
into the park, and poor rural coastal towns into the park. Brighton and Hove have
transport links within the buses that take people to the Downs and to Cuckmere
park.
Haven, but the city seems to be the exception.
Transport links, include of course, sustainable
transport options such as cycling or walking routes
into the park. In addition, public transport provision
within the rural areas of the park is often inadequate,
with young people, for example, able to catch a bus
back somewhere, but unable to catch a bus back
home as there are no buses after a certain hour.
B4: A lack of promotion of There is currently much provision within the park that
the health benefits of carries with it potential health benefits for those taking
participating in activities part. These benefits are not however currently
currently delivered within promoted to potential and existing participants.
the park
South Downs Eco-Health Report
34
B5: An absence of specific
reference to eco-health in
relevant
plans
and
documentation
Securing better resources
B6: Difficulty accessing
funding for establishing and
developing
eco
health
schemes
Although the benefits of eco-health activity have been
proven the value of such provision is currently not well
promoted within commissioning plans and other
relevant documentation
B7: Lack of access to key
resources within the park
for specific activities.
B8: Lack of facilities in the
park
For example, for bushcraft activities and forest
schools (both need woodland), Nordic Walking, and
spaces for “green gym” participants to tackle, etc
Health walk co-ordinators brought this up as an issue,
in particular. Facilities that would be helpful to health
walk groups include signage and information boards
at the start point of regular walks and restaurants/tea
rooms large enough to accommodate groups of 40
people for tea, with public toilet facilities, for groups to
go to at the end of the walk.
Many schemes currently find funding a problem.
Three main needs have been identified;
- although there is evidence of the health
benefits of the outdoors there is currently a
lack of evaluation of interventions (although
the evidence around health walks is
growing). This presents problems to
providers when they are seeking funding.
- Short term leases / not owning land can
present a problem when applying for
funding. Partnerships need to be developed
between providers and land owners to
ensure the widest range of funding schemes
can be accessed.
- Most providers are small organisations and
charities except in the educational field.
Their funding needs are often relatively
small (less than £1000) and they do not
have the sufficient resource to search and
access potential funding schemes.
Developing provision
B9:
Lack
of
current The review of provision indicates certain provision is
provision for particular user focused on particular groups e.g., health walks mainly
groups
cater to the over 50s. Certain user groups currently
lack opportunities to participate in eco health activity
within the Park.
Young people - Lack of “non-educational” provision,
lack of informal activities.
Families
Families living in deprived areas outside of the Park
boundary tend to need introducing to what to do in
wild spaces. For example, picnicking, playing Frisbee,
South Downs Eco-Health Report
35
and other games for parents to play with children and
children to play together.
People with Mental Health difficulties
There are relatively few activities aimed exclusively for
people with mental health difficulties and only one
scheme could be found specific to those recovering
from addiction.
Working Age Adults
There are very few green exercise schemes aimed at
working age adults, with most health walks, for
example, taking place during weekdays, and very little
provision in the evenings and on the weekends (or
during lunch times). A large proportion of Brighton and
Hove’s population is made up of adults of working
age. Sussex County Sports Partnership runs the
“Active and Healthy Workplace initiative” with which
the Brighton and Hove PCT is engaged with. Currently
this initiative does not explicitly include a green
exercise strand.
Seniors
Although most participants on health walks are over
50, there are few activities specifically aimed at, for
example, those over 50. Fit as a Fiddle is rolling out its
programme for over 50’s across the South East.
Currently, free Nordic Walking is being offered in
Surrey and in Hampshire. There are no Fit as a Fiddle
groups in Sussex as yet.
People recovering from specific operations or
conditions
There are currently no such activities available within
the park boundary
B10:
A
shortage
of There are currently some activities that are not well
opportunity to participate in provided for within the park boundary.
some activities
Cycling (there are currently no “cycling for health”
schemes within the park although there are number of
cycling initiatives that do not have an explicit link to
health in the cities surrounding the park.)
Free/ low cost bushcraft
Bootcamps
Fishing
Care Farming
B11: A lack of schemes Currently most of the provision except for that in the
specifically
for
Park education sector is aimed at those living in
residents
communities considered to be deprived, with larger
populations, mainly based on the periphery and local
South Downs Eco-Health Report
36
to the park. There are no schemes aimed specifically
at residents linked directly to the fact that they are
living within a National Park.
B12:
A
shortage
of For example, for children with learning difficulties and
residential holiday places
disabilities, to give their parents a break. Places for
carers (including young carers) to go for short breaks,
to have a break from their caring responsibilities, and
days out and short breaks for children who have a
parent who has a mental health disorder, and tend to
find it difficult to get opportunities for respite care.
B13: Coordination relating Currently the largest category of eco health activity
to educational eco health within the Downs is that provided by the education
schemes
sector. However there is, at present, no ‘joined up ‘
approach to this area of provision.
South Downs Eco-Health Report
37
7. RECOMMENDATIONS
This section identifies the focus for future work in the South Downs based on the
analysis and recommendations from all the previous sections. Ten recommendations
are made, including cross cutting themes, which if developed will support eco-health
activities across the National Park.
1) Better provision of information to improve understanding and use.
A new resource is required in order to:
- raise awareness of the high quality environment and its potential health
benefits
- provide information on opportunities for participating in eco health activities
- promote the health benefits of existing activity
In easy-to-use relevant media for different groups of people (residents of the park,
those who live in the “red area” around the park, visitors to the area from London and
the South East, the UK and beyond, and professionals /commissioners from health,
social care, youth services, schools, county sports partnerships, local authorities and
third sector organisations). This would provide a way of marketing the South Downs
as the Natural Health Service "on your doorstep". This would be simple for potential
participants to access and use and provide reciprocal links to other websites (e.g.
websites aimed at adults with learning disabilities).
Existing publications (e.g. East Sussex County Council’s directory of activities which
they put out every 6 months) could be used to highlight green exercise opportunities
in the area covered by the specific publication.
2) Research and partnership working to assist providers with accessing
resources and obtaining funding.
In order to address the difficulties currently facing providers with regards to funding it
is essential that a mechanism is in place that facilitates partnership working.
- Further research needs to be carried out to establish the health benefits of
participating in specific eco health activities to provide the robust evidence
required for funding applications. This is best commissioned by authorities
such as the National Park Board and Natural England in partnership with
specific schemes so that the findings can be disseminated most effectively.
- There is a need for a forum across the national park area for eco health
providers to work in partnership to facilitate access to physical, human and
financial resources.
- An education sector working group should be established to share best
practice, enhance future provision and undertake research into the use of the
SDNP as an outdoor classroom. The working group should involve the
county department/advisors, FE colleges, universities and private schools
based in or close to the park
3) Increasing provision for training and education of volunteers
South Downs Eco-Health Report
38
There is a need to provide short, low cost or subsidised training courses aimed at
volunteers who wish to gain a working knowledge of the skills needed to work on
eco-health schemes. A training needs analysis should be conducted amongst eco
health providers to establish the exact nature of the courses required and the
preferred delivery options, There are several education and training establishments
based in the National Park who would be well placed to offer such courses.
4) Improving transport links from areas with high population local to the
national park and improving links within the park itself.
The review of demand and commission organizations suggest that the SDNP will
only be able to address the need for further eco health provision if good public
transport links exist between the park and urban communities especially in
Southampton, Portsmouth and urban south Hampshire. There is also a need for the
SDNP Authority to consider the role it will play in facilitating better transport links
within the park boundary in partnership with the Highways Authorities.
5) Development and improvement of small-scale facilities that support ecohealth activity within the National Park
Providers have indicated they could make more use of the National Park if there
were better facilities available.
Such facilities include signage, information boards, outdoor play areas for children,
restaurants with toilets suitable large enough to seat at least 40 people for tea, areas
with flat paths suitable for those the elderly and those with disabilities to walk on
without fear of falling. There is a need to identify specific locations where such
improvements could be made in a useful and environmentally sensitive manner.
Development of such facilities will also draw activity away from those areas that may
already be overcrowded and those that are more environmentally sensitive.
6) Developing provision for specific user groups
Certain user groups, such as those with mental health difficulties, currently have
fewer opportunities to engage in eco health activity within the National Park. This
gap can be addressed through:
 The provision of new activities and resources, for example, open access
spaces for young people to participate informally in bushcraft activities.
 Opportunities for the SDNP authority to link with schemes currently being
developed and rolled out. Such initiatives include Age Concern's Fit as a
Fiddle programme, which they are developing and rolling out across the South
East. Another project worth considering could be BTCV's Wellbeing comes
Naturally eco-minds project. Newhaven Community Development Association
Ltd. has just won 3 years funding to develop / promote schemes that promote
Health and Wellbeing activities in Open Spaces, and projects such as the
Railway Land project in Lewes (where a group of people adopt, restore and
care for specific areas of local land/wilderness) may also provide opportunities
to address the gaps.
 Existing schemes in other areas of the country that could be developed in the
South Downs Eco-Health Report
39
park such as Health Walks and outdoor exercise programmes for the
prevention, management and rehabilitation of specific conditions, for example,
for those recovering from heart attacks, and fly fishing for women recovering
from having a masectomy.
7) Addressing gaps in provision for some activities
Some activities such as Bushcraft could be further developed within the park and this
development has the opportunity to promote health benefits. The National Park
Board could work with organizations such as Sustrans, the Environment Agency and
commercial operators to link any proposed initiatives into the eco health agenda
within the park.
Care Farming is a key area where there is some existing formal provision but
potential demand from farmers has been identified. Natural England can pay some
contribution towards Care Farm visits through their Educational Access HLS
scheme. This could help support a wider strategic scheme for Care Farming and the
possibilities for more formal activity within the park warrant further research. The
National Park Board could play a role in co-ordinating this work in partnership with
Natural England.
8) A ‘Healthy Living in the South Downs National Park’ initiative.
There is no one scheme or initiative aimed exclusively at those people who actually
live within the park. The initial period of establishing the National Park provides an
ideal opportunity to establish a scheme that brings together all the opportunities for
residents to engage in eco health activities and links to places such GP surgeries,
businesses, schools and community centres located within the boundary. Further
stakeholder research is needed to establish what would be most suitable for local
residents but the review of provision suggests local schools already make
considerable use of the SDNP for eco health and learning initiatives. Therefore, the
scheme could include developing links between landowners and local schools to
promote understanding of the countryside and the development of well managed
spaces for schools’ eco health programmes.
9) Developing three residential respite care facilities
There is a need for respite care facilities for children within the area as there is
currently a shortage of such provision. Geographically, given the density of
population in the areas surrounding the park, it would seem most sensible to
consider three such centres.
 One to the East covering the catchment of Hastings through to Worthing
along the South Coast.
 One centrally located to the north of the park with easy access from South
London and the Surrey towns.
 One to the West attracting clients from Portsmouth and Southampton.
These locations would reach the largest number of people, making the facilities
accessible in the most environmentally sustainable way by reducing distance to
travel.
The centres could be new developments or could link in to existing provision by
expanding current activity to include such schemes.
South Downs Eco-Health Report
40
10) Integrating Eco Health at the heart of the 21st century National Park
The establishment of a 21st century park encouraging people to visit and enjoy the
natural resource provides an opportunity to develop the park as a true ‘green lung’
for the South East. There is currently no mechanism available for ensuring that the
park is considered as a potential resource for health benefits in strategic planning
within organizations such as the NHS and local authorities. In order to do this it is
important that any relevant plans and documentation from the National Park
Authority include and make reference to the eco health opportunities available.
Initiatives in the South Downs must be integrated with the South East Health strategy
and relevant national initiatives such as the Natural Health Service developed by
Natural England.
Currently, some of the PCTs are writing their Physical Activity Commissioning
Strategies. If eco-health can be included as a priority within these new plans this
would obviously smooth the way for future close collaboration between the SDNP
and the PCTs.
South Downs Eco-Health Report
41
References
Natural England, Our Natural Health Service – The role of the natural environment in maintaining
lives 2009
ii Department of Health, Health Inequalities: Progress and Next Steps, 2008
iii South Downs Joint Committee, Health and Well-being in the South Downs. Report by the South
Downs Officer, 2009
iv Natural England, an estimate of the value and cost effectiveness of the expanded WHI scheme
2009. Dave Stone, April 2009
v Nature and Health: Review of initiatives linking nature, health and well being in Hampshire,
Hampshire County council, June 2009
vi Wild Adventure Space for Young People, Literature Review, by OPENspace, September 2006
vii What About Us? Diversity Review Evidence, Part 1, The Countryside Agency (July 2005)
viii A Review of why specific communities in Northern Ireland do not use the countryside for recreation,
March 2008 (by CAAN – the Countryside Access and Activities Network)
ix Diversity Review, Options for Implementation, for the Countryside Agency by Open Space, the
research centre for inclusive access to outdoor environments.
i
South Downs Eco-Health Report
42