Dose of Nature at Kew Gardens: Sounds of Blossom

Dose of Nature was proud to be part of Sounds of Blossom, Kew Gardens’ springtime celebration blending music, blossom, and wellbeing. Visitors were invited to stroll through Kew’s blossom hotspots while enjoying original compositions by students of the Royal College of Music — and to take mindful pauses along the way. 


As part of the trail, Dose of Nature created five wellbeing signs placed at natural landmarks around the Gardens. See below, each sign showcasing the five ‘active ingredients’ of nature — simple, science-backed ways that connecting with nature can improve our mental health. 


1) Tree-laxation – panel near a large tree 


Stand under a large tree and look up! Notice the patterns of the branches, as they get smaller and smaller. These self-repeating patterns are called “fractals” and exist everywhere in the natural world. Scientists have discovered that when we look at fractal patterns, there’s an increase in alpha wave activity in our brains, a sign of a “wakefully- relaxed state” – and who doesn’t want to feel more of that?” 


2) Nature sounds – panel by some running water 


Close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you – notice how you feel when you hear the birds singing, or water running. How does this compare with when you hear an aeroplane or a car engine? 


Listening to the sounds of nature can make us feel happier, calmer and less stressed. We find comfort in these sounds because they are familiar to our brains, whilst the sounds of the modern world are unfamiliar and perceived by our brains as potential threats. 


3) Phytoncides – panel near pine trees 


Take a deep breath in through your nose – what can you smell? Even if you can’t smell anything, you are breathing in “phytoncides”. These are the chemicals that all trees and plants give off to protect themselves from threats such as fungi and bacteria. Breathing in these phytoncides increases natural killer cells in the blood, boosting immune functioning, reducing stress and improving sleep. 


4) Soil bacteria – panel near clean soil 


Bend down and touch the soil, feel it beneath your fingers, sniff it, write your name in it with a stick! 


There is growing evidence to suggest that breathing in, playing in, digging in, and even eating dirt may be good for our health. The microorganism in soil called “mycobacterium vaccae” has been found to have a positive impact on mood, vitality, and even cognitive functioning. 


5) Awe in nature – panel in front of something awe-inspiring 


Look straight ahead! Notice how you feel when you look at something stunningly beautiful in nature. Sometimes we experience goosebumps or a tingly feeling down the back of the spine at the sight of something truly spectacular – it’s awe-inspiring! Experiencing ‘awe’ as often as we can is good for our mental health. Researchers have found the more awe we have in our lives, the less stressed and more contented we seem to be! 


Together, these signs encouraged visitors to slow down, engage their senses, and discover the science of how nature supports our wellbeing. 


To learn more about the event, visit the Kew Gardens website.  

New Chimo Trust Grant to Support the Next Phase of Dose of Nature's Growth

June 1, 2026
We are delighted to share that the Chimo Trust has made a substantial new grant to support the next stage of Dose of Nature’s development, with a particular focus on expanding access for young people experiencing mental health challenges. We first began working with Chimo Trust in 2022, and from the outset they recognised both the urgency of the mental health crisis facing young people and the potential for nature-based interventions to play a meaningful role alongside existing services. At Dose of Nature, we believe that many people fall into the gap between early emotional distress and the threshold for specialist NHS support. Our nature prescriptions are designed to offer an accessible, non-stigmatising and evidence-based intervention that helps people reconnect — with themselves, with others and with the natural world. Over recent years, we have continued to build the evidence base for this approach, including through a randomised controlled trial conducted with the London School of Economics and Political Science. Our outcomes have consistently demonstrated levels of recovery and improvement that outperform average national talking therapy benchmarks, while delivering support in a way that feels more human, preventative and accessible. This new funding from Chimo Trust will support the development of our partnership model, enabling us to work alongside organisations across the UK to deliver Dose of Nature prescriptions for young people in both clinical and community settings. The aim is not only to expand access, but also to help build a scalable model that can support earlier intervention and long-term wellbeing in more communities. The timing of this support is particularly important. The recent interim report from the UK Government’s review into young people’s mental health highlighted the growing need for “earlier, less intensive and more accessible forms” of support beyond specialist clinical services. We believe nature-based interventions can play an important role in that future — especially when they are evidence-based, clinically informed and delivered through trusted community partnerships. We are hugely grateful to Chimo Trust for their continued belief in our work and for helping us take this next step toward making nature-based mental health support more widely available to the young people who need it most.

Supporting Student Wellbeing at Kingston College

May 14, 2026
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, the Dose of Nature team attended the wellbeing fair at Kingston College, joining staff and students in conversations about mental health, wellbeing and the importance of accessible support. Throughout the event, we spoke with students about their emotional wellbeing and some shared how the pressures of exam season were affecting them. Together, we explored simple ways to support mental health during stressful periods, including spending time outdoors and connecting with nature. Research shows that time in nature can help restore focus and attention, reduce feelings of stress and improve mood – all of which can be particularly valuable during periods of study and revision. Students were also invited to take part in a creative activity, designing their own nature-inspired decorations. These personalised keepsakes provided a fun opportunity for reflection and served as a reminder to take regular breaks, get outside and reconnect with the natural world. We were pleased to share information about Dose of Nature's services and to remind both students and college staff that young people aged 16–25 can self-refer to our service. Those interested in finding out more can learn about eligibility and access support through our young people's self-referral page . Thank you to Kingston College for welcoming us to the wellbeing fair and for helping to create space for important conversations about mental health. We enjoyed meeting so many students and sharing practical ways that nature can support wellbeing during challenging times.

Nature-Based Therapy: A Growing Movement in Mental Healthcare

March 26, 2026
On 13 March 2026, The Guardian featured the work of Dose of Nature as part of a wider story on how nature-based therapy is supporting people living with mental illness. For many participants, the impact has been profound. One described the experience simply as “it has changed my life,” while others spoke about feeling calmer, more connected, and better able to cope. At Dose of Nature, our work is grounded in the belief that mental healthcare should be integrated, preventative, and community-based. Nature-based therapy is not about replacing existing services, but strengthening them — offering clinically led, evidence-based support that works alongside traditional care. Our recent randomised controlled trial with the London School of Economics found that structured nature prescriptions can significantly improve outcomes for anxiety and depression, while also reducing costs. These findings reflect what participants already know: that time in nature, when guided and purposeful, can play a meaningful role in recovery. As the Guardian article highlights, this approach is gaining recognition not just for its impact, but for its potential to reshape how mental health support is delivered in the future. We are incredibly grateful to the participants, clinicians, partners and funders who are helping make this work possible. Read the full article to learn more about the people and stories behind this growing movement.
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