GreenME was represented at the Nature-Based Solutions 2026 International Congress in Paris by Dr. Richard Belcher (University of Kent) and Chiara Iodice-Kraft (ILS – Research Institute for Urban and Regional Development), who hosted Session 32, “Nature-based Solutions for mental health and wellbeing: informal, organized, and therapeutic approaches,“.
Their participation explored the role of nature-based solutions in supporting mental health and wellbeing, sharing perspectives from GreenME while also learning from researchers, practitioners and initiatives working across different forms of nature-based health promotion and care.
Chiara presented work on “Nature-Based Health Promotion in Cities: Exploring the Role of Green Care in Germany,” while Richard contributed to the wider discussion on how nature-based approaches can support mental health and wellbeing across informal, organised and therapeutic contexts.
Several key reflections emerged from the discussions.
Provision alone is not enough
Creating or providing green spaces does not automatically lead to health and wellbeing benefits. The restorative qualities of a setting, its suitability for different needs, an individual’s personal circumstances and the support available to them can all influence whether and how people engage.
We need to understand and quantify what nature adds
Nature-based programmes often combine several potentially beneficial elements: physical activity, social interaction, therapeutic support and contact with nature itself. Strengthening the evidence base therefore requires us to distinguish between these mechanisms and understand what nature adds beyond the other components of an intervention.
Connecting green care approaches
The Congress also highlighted the value of thinking about green care as a continuum rather than a collection of isolated interventions. Everyday experiences of nature, organised health-promotion activities and more structured therapeutic approaches can all contribute to wellbeing at different moments in a person’s life.
Taking the learning forward
Participation in the Nature-Based Solutions Congress was an important opportunity for GreenME not only to contribute to discussions around nature and mental health, but also to listen, compare experiences and learn from others working across Europe and beyond.
The conversations in Paris reinforced the need for nature-based solutions that are evidence-informed, responsive to individual needs and connected across different levels of care.