Training for health, care and VCFSE sector staff
We have worked with partners to offer free nature and wellbeing training for health, care and VCFSE sector staff in Oxfordshire
We have worked with partners to offer free nature and wellbeing training for health, care and VCFSE sector staff in Oxfordshire
Growing evidence shows that contact and connectedness with nature improve health and wellbeing, reduce stress, build resilience, and support recovery from poor health.
Oxfordshire Local Nature Partnership (OLNP) is working with Oxfordshire County Council Public Health and Greener Practice Oxfordshire to offer a menu of FREE training options on nature-based practice for people working with adults or children in a health, care, or support capacity. This project is running from October 2025 for one year and is funded by Public Health.
The idea is to offer something for everyone, no matter your role, current knowledge/skill level, or time availability. As well as promoting wellbeing through nature connection, we also want to build stronger links between health and care sector and VCFSE (voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise) sector organisations. We are working with three wonderful training providers and will be evaluating the whole project to understand its impact.
You can find the different options in the ‘Training Menu’ below. This lists available courses (with limited places), peer support and coaching opportunities and a train the trainer offer. If you’re still keen, scroll down to ‘requesting a training place’.
If you’re new to this topic, you many also want to check out existing free short open access courses that can be completed in your own time - you can find these below under Existing open access courses.
If you want to find out more, we are running two lunchtime drop-in information sessions in October and November as an opportunity to meet training providers and ask any questions before requesting a place.
• Lunchtime drop-in session 15th October 12.30 - 13:30pm (click to join)
• Lunchtime drop-in session 17th November 12:30 - 13:30pm (click to join)
Please note, there are three week-long ‘windows’ to request a place – in October and December 2025, and February 2026. See 'How to book' below.
This half-day course provides a useful introduction to the evidence base for the vital connections between human and environmental health and offers practical ways to integrate nature-based approaches into healthcare settings.
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This course offers an overview of the ways in which human health is inextricably linked to the health of the natural environment. This complex set of relationships is sometimes referred to as ‘planetary health’ and is increasingly recognised as a critical perspective in health creation. We summarise the international evidence base demonstrating the benefits of green space for physical and mental health and wellbeing, and describe how these benefits (and the impacts of environmental degradation) are unequally divided across our communities, exacerbating health inequalities. Access to green space is recognised as one of the determinants of health and ‘green’ prescriptions are increasingly being used by healthcare professionals to deliver health benefits for patients. This course explores the implications for healthcare and the design of clinical settings. Using real world examples we illustrate how you can integrate this approach into your own practice and maximise the potential of green space on your site.
Find out more.
This course is delivered in three parts: 2-8 hours of self-study, a 4-hour live online workshop, and ongoing peer and expert support through ‘Sustainable Healthcare Cafes’, 1h online workshops that CSH hosts across the year.
Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) is a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to inspire and empower people with the knowledge, skills and tools to play their part in the transformation to sustainable healthcare. The organisation delivers a variety of education courses designed for all health and social care staff with an interest in sustainable practice.
Express interestThis one-day course offers an introduction to nature-based practice for health and wellbeing. Participants will be introduced to the rationale and evidence for nature-based approaches in health and will be offered first-hand experience of simple, adaptable practices in nature.
By the end of the day, participants will begin to:
• Understand the rationale and context for nature-based approaches in health and care, gaining awareness of the growing evidence base linking nature, mental and physical health, and wellbeing.
• Experience and reflect on nature-based practices: try grounding, crafting, and reflective activities outdoors; notice how these practices affect themselves and consider applications in their work.
• Develop an initial awareness of core skills and frameworks: become familiar with the 5 Pathways to Nature Connectedness and be introduced to safe practice and the basics of risk awareness outdoors.
• Explore opportunities for practice: reflect on where and how nature could be integrated into their current role, team, or service; identify possible barriers and supports.
• Connect personal wellbeing with professional practice: begin to notice how time in nature supports their own resilience and reflective capacity; consider how this personal experience might translate into their work with clients.
Find out more.
This is a one day in-person course.
Natural Academy is a not for profit, social enterprise whose mission is to support the health and wellbeing of people and nature. NatureWell is an integrative nature and health approach, helping people and communities connect to nature for their health and wellbeing.
Express interestThis six-day course designed to build competence to deliver safe, trauma informed, evidenced nature-based health sessions. This approach has been developed over 12 years’ experience of working with people’s health and in natural settings.
Core learning includes:
• Foundations of ecopsychology, the NatureWell model, and the One Health approach
• Skills in grounding, mindfulness, facilitation of groups and individuals, reflective practice, and the 5 pathways to nature connectedness
• Planning, delivering, and reviewing nature-based activities for different groups
• Understanding green social prescribing, green care, nature and health and professional boundaries
• Building confidence and competence to facilitate individuals and groups outdoors
Learning outcomes include:
• Ability to design and lead safe, trauma informed, ethical, nature-based health interventions
• Increased personal and professional capacity in self-reflection and facilitation
• Understanding of how to embed nature into health, care, and wellbeing settings
• Optional pathway progression to Foundation Year in Ecopsychology & Nature-Based Practice
Find out more.
This 6-day course is delivered in three modules over several months. It begins with a 1-day introductory session, Introduction to Nature-Based Practice for Health and Wellbeing (described above), which serves as the first day of Module 1.
Participants continuing with the full course will complete Module 1 on the following day. Modules 2 and 3 will each be delivered as separate 2-day blocks.
This course will be delivered in a mixture of settings, including a healthcare site (John Radcliffe Hospital), outdoor education centre (Hill End), and a community setting in Oxford (TBC).
Module 2 will be held online. All venues will have accessible facilities. With the exception of Hill End, all venues will be accessible by public transport.
If transport is likely to be a problem for you, please get in touch via email.
Natural Academy is a not for profit, social enterprise whose mission is to support the health and wellbeing of people and nature. NatureWell is an integrative nature and health approach, helping people and communities connect to nature for their health and wellbeing.
Express interestThis is a four-day course designed to build competence for people working in nature focussed, community engagement programmes that promote nature-based health and wellbeing.
Core learning includes:
• Introduction to the NatureWell model and community-based approaches
• Practical tools for encouraging everyday engagement with nature
• Awareness of the health and social benefits of nature connection
• Building confidence to act as a facilitator and connector between communities, nature, and local services
Learning outcomes include:
• Skills to promote nature connection within communities and facilitate groups
• Increased confidence to encourage pro-environmental and pro-social behaviours
• Contribution to green social prescribing and community wellbeing initiatives
• Foundation for further progression into Nature Health Facilitator or other accredited pathways
Find out more.
This 4-day course is delivered in two modules over several weeks. It begins with a 1-day introductory session, Introduction to Nature-Based Practice for Health and Wellbeing (described above), which serves as the first day of Module 1.
Participants continuing with the course will complete Module 1 on the following day. Module 2 will be delivered separately as a 2-day block.
This course will be delivered in a mixture of settings, including a healthcare site (John Radcliffe Hospital), outdoor education centre (Hill End), and a community setting in Oxford (TBC). All venues will have accessible facilities. With the exception of Hill End, all venues will be accessible by public transport. If transport is likely to be a problem for you, please get in touch via email.
Natural Academy is a not for profit, social enterprise whose mission is to support the health and wellbeing of people and nature. NatureWell is an integrative nature and health approach, helping people and communities connect to nature for their health and wellbeing.
Express interestThis one-day workshop helps develop skills and confidence to engage people of all ages in nature-based play to support wellbeing, community, and nature connection.
Enjoy exploring the invitations to play that nature offers us all. Find out why play is a basic human need and what happens when we don’t play. Learn how a bag of simple, inexpensive resources can turn a walk into an adventure. Gather ideas and have fun remembering how humans have engaged with nature for millennia; learn simple techniques to help people of all ages feel welcome and safe in wilder spaces. Gain the confidence to assess benefits and risks, get tips to help you manage groups outdoors and learn how to encourage individuals to participate and respond. Discover the power of nature-based play to build communities that care for each other and the world around them. Come prepared to play outside, whatever the weather.
This may be particularly relevant for social workers, youth leaders, coaches, playworkers, teachers, health professionals, childminders and youth pastors.
1 full-day workshop, 9.30 - 3.30 pm - each workshop will focus on elemental, seasonal play - attending more than one will build knowledge and skills.
Where The Fruit Is is an Oxfordshire-based organisation offering accredited and bespoke training and coaching in Forest School approaches. The organisation draws on the expertise of knowledgeable experts in the fields of education, bushcraft, forestry and Health and Safety training. They have formed many successful partnerships across sectors (including public sector organisations in Oxfordshire) and have been commissioned to lead projects locally and nationally.
Express interestAs part of this project, we are offering various options for ongoing peer support and mentoring, for those who are keen to put new knowledge and skills into practice.
These will be open to those undertaking any of the training options listed above and we will let you know how to join these once you accept your offer of a place. These will be online drop-in sessions with Sarah Lawfull from Where the Fruit Is, a highly experienced educator and coach who is committed to connecting people and nature, for the health and well-being of both. Sarah is a member of the Henley Coaching Centre, the ICF and a fellow of the RSA.
Depending on initial feedback, we may open sessions to others who have not received training through this project but are interested in integrating nature-based practice in their professional care or support work.
These are available to anyone who has completed a CSH training course (usually healthcare professionals). Those who attend the Greenspace and Health course will be given more information and joining details.
Natural Academy will run quarterly online CPD sessions for anyone undertaking NatureWell training as part of this project. You’ll be given more information as part of the course - however, provisional dates for these sessions include 19th May, 23rd July, 22nd September, and 24th November 2026. Trainees will also have access to nationwide ‘communities of practice’ that Natural Academy manages.
For those who are keen to take their new skills to the next step, we are also offering the opportunity to become an accredited trainer of NatureWell. This is open to anyone who has completed Natural Academy’s Nature & Health Facilitator (NHF) training – including anyone who has completed the course outside of the current Oxfordshire offer.
The Train the Trainer pathway provides the skills, knowledge, and practical experience required to:
• Teach the NatureWell approach with confidence and integrity.
• Facilitate accredited trainings for health and care professionals.
• Support the scaling of nature-based practice across services and communities.
How it works
• Shadowing: Participants will shadow the second cohort of Nature & Health Facilitator training within this project, observing, assisting, and beginning to take on teaching roles. Reflective Sessions: In addition to the NHF training dates for Cohort 2, there will be two half-day online reflective sessions focused on pedagogy, facilitation skills, and group process (10th March & 12th May 2026).
• Accreditation: Successful completion will lead to recognition as a NatureWell trainer, enabling participants to deliver accredited trainings under Natural Academy’s framework.
Expressions of interest to undertake this training will be taken during the second window in December 2025.
The following courses are already available as resources that anyone can access. This might be a good place to start if you’re thinking about undertaking a longer course, especially if you are new to this topic area. All are offered by trusted and established organisations.
This resource has been developed by consortium of partners collaborated with General Practitioners (GPs) and education provider Red Whale to create a learning module for GPs. The free course explains the evidence that underpins the health benefits of connecting patients to nature and gives some simple, practical steps showing GPs how they can integrate nature-based solutions into their everyday practice. To access the free training module on Red Whale, you will need to sign up as a new user and verify your email address. This course is made up of a 25-minute video and accompanying written resource.
Find out moreThis free module, developed in partnership between the Centre for Sustainable healthcare, Healthcare Ocean and RSK, explores the complex relationship between nature, human health and the healthcare sector and what we can do to support nature to thrive. To access the module you need log onto the CSH course website. Registration is free. The module should take around 1h15 to complete, with an additional optional 35 minutes of videos.
Find out moreThis short course is part of Forestry England’s supportive programme of activities for those who are looking to improve their health and wellbeing. The course includes a summary of evidence showing the health and wellbeing benefits of nature, and activities to connect your service users (and yourself) with nature at home, in healthcare settings and outside.
When following the link below, scroll down to the subtitle ‘Online training module’. To access this course, you can register for a free Forestry Commission single sign on account, or join as a guest. The course should take around 45 minutes to complete.
The University of Derby is leading the development of ground-breaking evidence that explains what nature connectedness is, how it can be measured, its benefits for human and environmental wellbeing - and, importantly, how it can be improved.
This free online course provides an opportunity for you to learn about Nature Connectedness and the value of having a strong relationship with nature. Made up of eight short units, the course encourages you to actively consider our relationships with nature, for our own well-being as well as for the longer-term benefit of nature and the natural world. The course runs over 4 weeks (2 hours study time per week) and is hosted by FutureLearn.
If you would like to request a place on one of these courses, please complete the expression of interest (EOI) form, below. This will be available during three weeklong windows in October 2025, December 2025, and February 2026 (see ‘important dates’ below). If there is no link to the form, that means that we are not currently inviting EOIs. The form should only take a few minutes, but before making a start please make sure that you’ve read all the information and are confident that you can make the training dates.
We will contact everyone within 1 week of the EOI window closing to let you know whether you have been allocated a place and explain next steps. You will then have 1 week to confirm that you definitely want the place, before we offer it to someone else on the waiting list.
In general, places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. However, priority will be given to those working in areas of higher greenspace/socioeconomic deprivation and/or with groups who are socially marginalised. We may also use discretion to ensure that a range of professional roles are represented. Although funding stretches to limited places at this time, we will maintain an active waiting list.
Any questions – just ask! Lizzie.moore@southandvale.gov.uk. Alternatively, do come along to a drop-in information session to find out more.
October 2025 expressions of interest period
December 2025 expressions of interest period
February 2026 expressions of interest period
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