We are pleased to announce that Richmond Council have agreed to grant Dose of Nature (DoN) a new lease for Pensford Field from September 2025. The Council’s decision reflects a shared commitment to addressing an urgent mental health crisis within the Borough and beyond.

Our volunteer-led charity has demonstrated the therapeutic power of nature, providing much-needed services to individuals suffering from depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges, with higher efficacy and lower cost than more established options. Our Nature Prescriptions are currently constrained to support around 300 people annually with the arrangement at present, and with this new lease we are set to expand to 500 people per year. This means more vulnerable groups and children who have been hardest hit by the ongoing mental health crisis benefitting from our innovative programme.

Beyond mental health benefits, we are committed to increasing wider, resident, community and schools’ access to the Field, as well as guaranteeing the continued access by the current users, such as beekeeping, Darell School children and local nurseries, and community activities and events such as the Pensford Field Summer Picnic and the Wassail. All this we will do whilst continuing to consider the ecological impact of our endeavours.

Dose of Nature’s work is deeply rooted in environmental conservation, and we will protect and further improve this unique urban ecological space. Our nature-based therapeutic approach complements the preservation of Pensford Field’s unique ecosystem. Small group sizes and minimal environmental footprint ensure that conservation remains a priority while offering life-changing health benefits to the community​. The evolving use of Pensford Field is an evolution that reflects the growing need for green spaces to serve both ecological and human health functions. 

Every step will be eco-conscious and sustainable in a way that is nurturing to this beautiful green natural space and sensitive to our surrounding neighbours, using local people’s enthusiasm and expertise to fulfil this exciting community conscious transition. With biodiversity at its heart, we would hope to showcase to other London Boroughs and beyond what can be done with a small patch of outdoor green space, both for the benefit of the environment and the benefit of people in the community.

As our original hub, Dose of Nature's presence at Pensford Field has provided the opportunity to scientifically track and validate our proof-of-concept as a nature-based mental health charity that works closely with the NHS. Our partnership with the London School of Economics for a year-long research project related to mental health and environmental conservation will provide further evidence, as we expand to other locations. All these successes have helped us to garner national coverage and interest in our innovative charity. A more firmly established presence at the Field will help secure our national influence as a charity transforming the way mental health is addressed.

The transition of the Pensford Field lease to Dose of Nature will provide a sustainable future for the Field and local community use, as well as expanding its impact on mental health, ensuring its conservation for generations to come. We look forward to working with the Council and the Pensford Field Environmental Trust trustees on this transition. They have created a wonderful legacy.