The Natural Health Service: What the Great Outdoors Can Do for Your Mind

by Isabel Hardman

In 2016, Isabel Hardman's mind, in her own words, 'stopped working' as she fell prey to severe depression and anxiety. She took time off on long-term sick leave and despite several relapses has returned to work with a much improved ability to cope. She has since become one of the UK's most prominent public voices on mental health.

She credits her better health to her passion for exercise, nature and the great outdoors - from horse-riding and botany to cold-water swimming and running. In The Natural Health Service, she draws on her own personal experience, interviews with mental illness sufferers and psychologists, and the latest research to examine what role wildlife and exercise can play in helping anyone cope with mental illness. Straight-talking, thoroughly-researched, and compassionate, this important and often funny book will fascinate anyone touched by a mental health condition, whether themselves or through the experiences of a loved one.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Psychology, Self Help, Mental Health, Audiobook, Health

336 pages, Hardcover

First published April 23, 2020

About the author

Isabel Hardman is a political journalist and the assistant editor of The Spectator. In 2015, she was named Journalist of the Year at the Political Studies Association's annual awards.

She is the daughter of Michael Hardman, the first chairman and one of the four founders of the Campaign for Real Ale. She attended St Catherine's School, Bramley, and Godalming College, before graduating from the University of Exeter with a first class degree in English Literature in 2007. While at university, Hardman worked as a freelance journalist for The Observer. She completed a National Council for the Training of Journalists course at Highbury College in 2009.

Hardman began her career in journalism as a senior reporter for Inside Housing magazine. She then became assistant news editor at PoliticsHome. In September 2014, GQ magazine named her as one of their 100 most connected women in Britain, and in December 2015, she was named "Journalist of the Year" at the Political Studies Association's annual awards. She is currently the assistant editor of The Spectator, and writes a weekly column for The Daily Telegraph.

She appears on television programmes such as Question Time, This Week, The Andrew Marr Show and Have I Got News for You, and is a presenter of the BBC Radio 4 programme Week in Westminster.

She hosts The Spectator Podcast.

Reviews

[Vix S · Rating 4 out of 5]

At 05:30 this morning, I dashed down my front steps and briskly walked up the road to my car, my thoughts consumed by whether or not I’d find a parking space near the train station, if the tubes would be running infrequently because it was a bank holiday, if this would make me late for work, what the knock on effects of this would be, and as I flipped my wing mirror out, I paused - the dawn chorus was almost DEAFENING. I stood in the road, the humans on my street sleeping around me, and I paused to listen to the birds waking up and shouting at one another. This is what Isobel Hardman’s book is about, really: making time for ourselves every single day to appreciate our natural world. Taking pause to listen, look or feel what is around you can drastically alter your frame of mind. Nature has such a calming effect, and this book does a wonderful job of reminding us of all the ways we can benefit from its warm, soothing embrace.

[Janice Bridger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book chimes well with me as it supports the way I self medicate for improved mental health by linking with wildlife and the natural world as much as I can. Isabel is fairly young so some of her linking involves marathons and a lot of running! However I’m more interested in the botany and bird side of it!
Lots of interesting ideas that people can use but no pressure as told from her point of view. It doesn’t claim to cover everything but my main disappointment is that she names a chapter the natural health service: a manifesto and then doesn’t really manage to produce one. Possibly she’s just saying we need one but unless there is some kind of framework to base it on it’s difficult to progress.
Here’s mine
1 Improve the status of mental health in health and care system as being necessary for overall health.
2 Social prescribing fully researched and evidence based.
3 Update mental health at work and school plans in the light of Covid and at regular intervals.
4 Make education outdoors compulsory in all schools. Could include a vocabulary to use. Every school should have a nature reserve or adopt one.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had some criticisms of the book but overall made me really wanna go outside and see more nature. Enjoyed it a lot.

4.2 / 5

[Niamh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a really interesting read about finding ways to cope while struggling with mental health. I liked majority of the topics as each section included a bit of history as well as Isabel's personal stories. I'm definitely going to try out cold water swimming!

[Katie Carlyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book didn’t start great for me, it discussed gardening, birdwatching and these aren’t activities that I’ve ever really been interested in, nor did I find myself interested in them when they were being discussed, however, I am interested in more active aspects of nature, such as running and wild swimming, both of which I found really interesting and relatable aspects of the books. I really enjoyed the different perspectives and the studies that have been done so far to show the perks of being outside on our mental health.

Definitely a book worth reading if you need a few ideas that may or may not help with your mental health but it’s got some very interesting and different suggestions. I have actively begun looking at the nature that exists when I’m out a walk, noticing the birds that are around (though I wouldn’t personally enjoy spending time researching birds or plants to identify them or find rare plants). I like that the book opens up the conversation about mental health and doesn’t aim to fix it, it gives us all a call to action and has some great tips for friends of those with mental illnesses.

A great read, definitely one to recommend!

Thanks to @NetGalley and @Atlanticbooks for the ARC.

[Eitakbackwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 rounded up to 3. Good premise. Didn’t rate the depth of ideas, structure or writing style.

[Fern Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book. Isabel Hardman explores the positive correlation between nature and health. She looks how being out of doors and physical activity (gardening, walking, running and horse riding being given as the detailed examples) can help improve mood and recovery from mental health conditions as well as a positive impact on some physical conditions too. This book reads more as a textbook than something you might simply read and pick up for enjoyment with many references, case studies, manifestos and academic links through out. I feel it is something that would be extremely beneficial for GPs and other health and social care practitioners to read and gain ideas from that may help patients. While people looking for solutions may also find this helpful, it’s more academic than self help. Really enjoyed reading and thinking about the content from this. Would have preferred a section that looked at options more accessible to those with severer physical limitations and disabilities however overall a fantastic read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illnesses are crafty and can circumvent the good work of the Natural Health Service, just as physical illnesses can make a mockery of the most advanced drugs on offer. But time and again an intervention from the great outdoors has made treatment that bit easier, life worth living and symptoms that bit less all-consuming.

In many ways this book affirmed what I already believe and practice -- mainly, getting outdoors as much as possible in order to boost my mental health.  The writing style wasn't brilliant, and there were a lot of awkwardly-worded sentences, but the author talks candidly about her own mental health struggles which I appreciate takes a lot of courage.

While the author acknowledges that not everything will work for everyone (some people loathe running, while others can't sit quietly in a hide for hours) she also takes the view that you might as well go out for a walk, because even if it doesn't help, it won't make you feel worse.  This ignores the fact that mental health conditions often go hand in hand with chronic physical illnesses, and going for a walk when you're fatigued can, in fact, make you feel a whole lot worse.  Telling someone to ignore their body and go outside anyway isn't helpful.

At times this book felt more aimed at policy-makers, especially towards the end -- let's hope they take notice of it.

[David Kerslake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabel Hardman has written a wonderful book about the benefits that the great outdoors can have for everyone's mental health.
The author herself has suffered from PTSD and the consequences for her own mental health have been horrendous. However, she deliberately provides few details, so that her own troubles do not distract from her main aim which is to help others. Even so, I could not help feeling so sorry for her.
As an experienced political journalist Isabel is well equipped to write this book and it came as no surprise to me to find that it was well researched and written in a style that is guaranteed to engage the reader.
Studying and recording wild flowers, birdwatching, walking in the countryside, cycling, running and cold water swimming are just some of the activities described that can help improve your mental health, and Isabel has tried them all; so she speaks with authority.
The author is clearly on a mission but this book has not been written for reasons of self promotion but in order to help others. Read it. Be helped.Thank you Isabel.

[Kate Potapenko · Rating 3 out of 5]

First half of the book is pretty good. However I mostly liked it because I kept googling them plants and getting inspired for my next road trip.
Then it becomes very repetitive in my opinion.. Running works and here's why, but not for everyone... cycling works and here's why, but not for everyone... and so on..
I think it would make a great book if it was half a size and wouldn't go into so many little details...
The message is "Get out more! Nature is good for you!"

Thank you #NetGalley for my free copy

[Elizabeth Bridcut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting and practical. Well worth a read/listen. The author read the audio book which was great from the point of view that it's nice to know it's the person's own book but a professional audio book person/actor has their advantages. I sometimes found her diction a bit over-precise and her putting on a different voice when quoting someone a little off-putting.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the author’s writing style, candor and outlook on life. However it felt slightly padded out and would have worked just as well in an essay format rather than a 300 page book.

[Paris · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* - i did enjoy this book, and it definitely made me want to get outside. i rated slightly lower because i didn’t agree with a few of the blanket statements written in some chapters.

[Emily Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that has really resonated with me for several reasons. Have already started to use some of these ideas before reading and have noted their positive impact and will now continue and expand my use of the Natural Health Service by trying more

[Humaira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting take on getting out into nature for mental health but I felt this book could have been a bit shorter and still retained the message of the book as by the last few chapters it was a bit repetitive.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 for reasons already made clear.

[Fliss · Rating 1 out of 5]

Isabel Hardman’s The Natural Health Service (2021) presents well-researched ideas about the possibilities and benefits that being outdoors presents for mental health. I enjoyed a lot of the suggestions about how to get active when suffering with a debilitating mental illness, but discovered a plethora of shortcomings. Predominantly, the author’s inability to empathise with those outside her social class.

Firstly, Hardman fails to consider the circumstances of the poor who, as a group, are over represented in mental illness statistics. This leaves a sour taste in the mouth when paired with a description of her own well-off upbringing later in the book. Furthermore, she does not understand her privilege of being in a position to take time off of work due to mental illness; let alone being responsibility-free enough to accomplish the activities suggested in the book. Her strong safety net of a support system blinds her to others’ struggles. In brief, the writer appears as out of touch with a large section of her audience by presenting a clear divide between her position in society and the readers’.

Moreover, while Hardman mentions the mental health of disabled people, she does not acknowledge the difficulties they may face in getting outdoors. In my opinion, as a disabled person, it is not necessary for every book to mention every marginalised group. I raise this point because Hardman discusses the mental health of a friend suffering with a condition that involves chronic pain and a shorter than average life expectancy. Hardman’s coverage of the topic is blasé, merely mentioning that her friend is struggling but that being outdoors helps. Even worse, her friend’s story is used to progress Hardman’s narrative that everybody is able to spend time outside to significantly improve their mental health. This all indicates that the author either has no regard for or simply does not understand the struggles of an already marginalised group, the disabled.

In addition, at one point Hardman discusses criticism that she has faced of being classist but redirects it entirely. In the latter half of the book, she discusses equine therapy for mental health and its benefits; this may be directed towards a group of people with a higher income than most. The problem is established when Hardman acknowledges the criticism of suggesting a largely inaccessible activity. This is because she deflects the critique entirely and points out that equine therapy for children with physical disabilities is not condemned for the same reason. In her defensive statement she effectively alienates those with valid concerns. The first problem is that her example is not at all comparable to mental health issues (which have many treatments at various price points). Secondly, her attempt to pull on the heart strings is entirely futile since it is abrupt, almost a non-sequitur. Hardman would have had more success if she had acknowledged the limitations of equine therapy for mental health and taken responsibility for not outlining the financial barrier. In essence, the writer’s deflection of a justified concern only serves to sever the relationship between her and the reader.

Finally, this book is less about spreading awareness of the benefits of being outdoors and more of an autobiography of a person with PTSD. I enjoyed the personal touch of her anecdotes until half way through when I realised they are more of an attempt to pad out the story. Her descriptions of the studies and subsequent reviews of activities she tries are more suited to an article than a three-hundred page book. In essence, this work is a memoir about Hardman’s recovery with some science thrown in.

Overall, this book is a massive disappointment. Between Hardman’s classism, ableism and ego this is a hard book to read. Even though I am now tempted to go cold-water swimming and join a park run, I feel deflated by her extensive oversights and sweeping generalisations. The Natural Health Service is written by and for middle class people, making it dangerous when people of a lower social class try to help themselves using the advice in this book. When presented with the notion that spending time outside is imperative and easy, people who struggle with time or money or ability could feel worse about themselves. Therefore, entirely defeating the point of this book. In order to see the impact that Hardman attempts to rally, she needs to reassess the restrictions that many people face when trying to access The Natural Health Service.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

The paperback edition of The Natural Health Service has been edited to reflect on Covid-19 and the mental health challenges it has brought the UK, which differs from the original hardback edition. This book is even more relevant than ever in the wake of 2020.

It is multi-faceted. On the one hand, it is an extensive guide on how to utilise nature to improve our mental health and manage mental illness. On the other, it is the story of the author’s own battle with mental illness and how connecting with nature helped her survive and return to a job she loves. It’s also the stories of many other people who have turned to nature for mental health reasons, whether that’s therapists or patients themselves.

It’s an ode to the wonder of nature. Hardman writes about her hunts for elusive orchids, her dedication to seeing a kingfisher, her first encounter with a bittern. The little gems in nature that made her want to keep living. It is a joy to experience the joy she found in nature even as dark thoughts stalked her mind.

She says it how it is. Time in nature is not going to cure mental illness but it is an essential treatment alongside conventional treatment. She describes it as physio for the mind. Nature can make mental illness more bearable and more manageable.

Initially, as Hardman talks about horse-riding, gardening, having a personal trainer, her pets, wild swimming, this Natural Health Service feels like an exclusively middle-class concept.

But she is adamant about the importance of making the Natural Health Service accessible to everyone. She highlights that, despite perceptions, nature is free and is accessible to many. Most nature reserves and woodlands are free to visit. And many of these places are hidden in plain sight in our urban areas.

Hardman lays out the wide range of research indicating that nature helps mental health in a relevant and engaging way. The author tests out various initiatives such as forest bathing.

She also goes through research into the various methods of managing mental health and highlights how nature can support us in using those methods in a holistic way. For example, using nature for mindfulness and writing a nature-focused gratitude journal.

As a journalist, she does make efforts to be balanced in her presentation of research and anecdotes. Hardman accepts that perhaps much of it is down to the placebo effect. I suspect she does not believe this however based on her own experiences. But even if this is the case, she argues that is not a reason to discount it. Nature works even if we’re not always sure why.

The last chapters are a call to action. A manifesto for an urgently needed Natural Health Service to help us cope with a mental health crisis and to support our under -resourced National Health Service. She speaks out about the dangers our children are facing from ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’. The threats nature faces and the threat to ourselves is explored too.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone struggling with their own mental health, for friends and family of those with mental illness, for GPs, therapists, MPs and policy-makers. This book reaffirmed what I personally hold to be true about nature and also taught me so much more.

[Carole Tyrrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Natural Health Service
This is a passionate and well argued book in which the author, Isabel Hardman, makes the suggestion that engaging with the great outdoors is not only good for your wellbeing but also for your mental health. She is a political journalist who had a traumatic event which she doesn’t dwell on and, as a result, developed mental health issues.
In order to manage her condition she started going outside her home and looking for flowers and plants along the way. She began to identify them, even the little ragged city street weeds, and began to be interested in botany. It isn’t long before she begins meeting other likeminded people and she branches out into running, cold water swimming and cycling amongst others. But it’s not just the activity itself but also about the people that she meets, people like herself who may be suffering in the same way, but work with nature to enhance their lives. Mental illness can make you feel very isolated especially if you don’t have much support and, if you can find the energy to do it, just being outside can be a reward. The author is very good at managing her illness and is aware of warning signs. Taking part in activity also means that people aren’t meeting you as a person with a problem but as someone who’s joining in or helping out.
The paperback edition of the book couldn’t be better timed. During the first lockdown, I felt and saw that people really engaged with nature and a really warm spring helped as well. I have always found that it’s often the people that you meet while exploring that can provide the most benefit. I have often found myself chatting to a complete stranger while we both admire a rainbow, a dazzling sunset or a host of roosting cormorants and for that moment or two we are both connected by the event before us before we go our separate ways, never to meet again.
The author quotes case studies and other research to support her case and these make for stimulating reading. In the final chapter, she presents a manifesto for a Natural Health Service but I felt that it needed more a framework. However, it does contain some thought provoking ideas. Mental illness is not well funded despite politicians promising much but often failing to deliver.
In many ways, Isabel Hardman was preaching to the converted as, whenever I have been between jobs without much money or just fed up, i take my camera and walk out of the door to see what i can find. It may only be looking round the back garden or on the way to the shops but I will find something to see. Not everything in this book will work for everyone but nature can change peoples lives for the better.
My thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC.

[what.heather.loves · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What is important is learning to incorporate the great outdoors into your normal life, whatever shape that is...We have to see the Natural Health Service as something integral to our way of life."

Following trauma resulting in PTSD and as a result of a chance discovery of 'Orchidelirium' (Victorian orchid madness), political journalist Isabel Hardman returned to her childhood roots through botany. She found searching for plants and flowers calmed her mind, got her outside and gave her purpose. This led her to try and look into other ways nature can help metal illnesses. Each chapter covers different outdoor activities and discusses case study examples with those whose mental illnesses have diminished or been better managed as a result of them. Such activities include gardening, bird-watching, dog-walking, running, forest bathing and wildlife. We are part of nature and benefit from being experiencing it.

Published in hardback before the pandemic this paperback version (which I read a digital ARC of courtesy of @netgalley and @atlanticbooks) includes an extra chapter about how time outside in nature has become more valuable now life is restricted.

I've also experienced trauma, along with depression, postnatal depression, stress and anxiety and always find nature and being outdoors help me. Even now, during Lockdown 3.0, I always feel better for what I refer to a 'march' around the parkland I am lucky enough to live near to. Fresh air, exercise, the beautiful trees, plants and wildlife never cease to make me feel better, a small part of something bigger, which I try to impress upon my children. I've struggled previously living in towns and cities, find my current rural village, with its historic park and the countryside surrounding it, suits me better.

"...time and again an intervention from the great outdoors has made treatment that bit easier, life worth living and symptoms that bit less allconsuming."

[Val Robson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Natural Health Service is part memoir, part self-help and part manifesto setting out how we need to change as a country to help the needs of those with poor mental health.

Its publication at the start of 2021, after possibly the most difficult year in most people’s lives, is very timely. I expect many who thought they had good mental health prior to the pandemic of 2020 would benefit from reading this book. I concur very much with what the author has to say which is basically that getting outdoors and doing something helps to get and maintain good mental health. This might be strolling in a forest with purpose, cold-water swimming, running, walking, cycling, birdwatching or simply appreciating the botany around.

A lot of research has gone into this book as author and journalist, Isabel Hardman, writes of the many ways in which we can embrace outdoor pursuits with many examples of individuals, groups and organisations country wide who have done just that to great benefit.

I found some sections too detailed, especially the multitude of names of plants and trees. I would have preferred a more edited version, or at least illustrations to give us some idea what all the botany items look like. The basic message is very clear and one I would agree with wholeheartedly having experienced first-hand the benefits of getting outside daily during 2020. It’s a very practical read in terms of being inspirational in giving the reader encouragement to get outside more and ideas for what to do once there.

It’s a book that I will dip into again in the future as I maybe consider trying something different such as cold-water swimming, bird watching or learning more about botany on my daily walks.

With thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Emily B · Rating 3 out of 5]

"But while the British National Health Service is over subscribed and struggling to balance its books, the Natural Health Service's waiting rooms are often empty. Too few of us see nature as essential to our lives [...] We view time outdoors as a luxury to save for our holidays, not integrate into our working days in the same way as we find time to have lunch or pop to the shops. This is absurd: we are part of nature and we need nature."

I wholeheartedly agree with the Natural Health Service Manifesto and I really hope (perhaps somewhat naively?) that policymakers and employers might get their hands on this book and learn from it. Isabel acknowledges socioeconomic disparities which can prevent access to activities outdoors, but also suggests many ways to engage with and absorb nature by different means. I really appreciate what she is saying, and the numerous studies she uses to back up what she's saying.

My reluctance to give this more than 3 stars comes down to my personal experience of reading the actual book - it's taken me 4 months of occasionally dipping into it! Sometimes it felt quite slow and repetitive and not particularly compelling to keep pushing forwards with it, especially as I went through my own mental health difficulties when reading this over winter, and the thought of most exercise or being outdoors was very hard. So whilst I like the content of the book, the style did put me off, and on a personal level, I felt some guilt over the fact that I am not able to or do not want to pursue icy swimming, running, cycling, pet stroking or orchid hunting. BUT Isabel does make it clear that not everything is for everyone, and medication is also important, and sometimes it is just not possible to get out of bed. A mixed bag of a review!

[Joy Lenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This eminently helpful book couldn’t be more timely, arriving as it has during a pandemic which has adversely impacted people’s mental health with its horrendous effects. The author is a political journalist who developed crippling severe depression and PTSD in 2016, causing her to have to stop work and recover as best she could. Her journey back to better health is mentioned fleetingly here because the primary focus is on other people’s stories instead.

Yet her own experience of mental health problems has made her an acute, empathetic, and informed observer of what helps and what hinders recovery. At a time when the NHS is overwhelmed and undermanned due to Covid-19, with most departments not opening or operating as they did before, many are seeking an alternative route to better health.

It’s no secret that nature has calming and healing qualities. The fresh premise being shared here is how we can deliberately harness it for our good in various ways that support our mental health, with methods as diverse as cold-water swimming, horse riding and running. Outdoor activities, especially gardening, have a proven beneficial effect on both mind and body.

By means of thorough research, good investigative journalism, and anecdotal stories, threaded with her own responses to trying different measures to help herself, the author reveals how immersion in nature needs to become an integral part of our lives and a general experience rather than a fancy add-on we often fail to fully appreciate. It’s a beautifully written, thought-provoking and captivating read. Grateful thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for the ARC.

[Ciaran Monaghan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I totally agree with the premise and can definitely understand that being outdoors, being active and interacting with nature can provide health benefits. I also think people should be encouraged to get out into nature more to strengthen their appreciation of the natural world, so that they apply more pressure to politicians to protect nature and begin to reverse the process of nature depletion in the UK, which has made it one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. However, I didn't wholly enjoy the book as I didn't really like Hardman as a narrator. There were times when I felt she was a little bit sneering/mocking about some of the activities she tried and (less so) the people she met. I might not have noticed if I just read the book myself, but I listened to the self-narrated audiobook and heard the sarcastic tones and other bits of emphasis that she added. I'm also pretty sure we are not politically aligned, and felt she was too dismissive of the idea that the natural world was less accessible to those on lower incomes. Some of her solutions/examples felt quite tone-deaf, i.e. she has been amazed by some of the wild flowers she has found growing in the cracks of pavements in inner-city London, and she didn't seem to consider that people on lower incomes shouldn't have to make do with those 'lesser' experiences that she offered up.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard to explain what this book is about beyond the title and that is very clear. The book is about getting outdoors - but it isn’t a manifesto or a polemic. It is a gentle stroll through some stories of people with mental health issues who wanted a way forward that didn't involve drugs. The way forward involves nature and becoming more aware of our surroundings - and what we are missing.

The stories are about walking, running, hiking etc but also about just “being”. I think this is the most important part as it is something we can all do - we can all just walk somewhere with trees, plants etc and just settle in to the surroundings and ground ourselves. I think during Covid - whether full lockdown or not - this is vital to our well being and the book is very timely.

I went out to my garden, which is nothing special, and stood beside a trellis and looked around. I saw things I hadn’t noticed before and I was amazed at the different shades and hues of green within a very small area. I also felt refreshed. It isn’t all simple and it won’t work every time for everyone but I think this book is important.

I was given a copy of the book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

[jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made a really good case for getting out in nature, and also made a brilliant case for why our society and government needs to utilise and protect natural spaces, not just for the sake of nature itself (tho that’s ofc super important in itself) but also for the sake of the health of people. I also liked that the author made an effort to discuss class in relation to getting out in nature, and sought to provide recommendations for those with fewer resources and means to access natural spaces.

Lots of studies and research was cited, and some were really, really interesting. E.g. the fact 3/4 of kids today spent less time outside than prison inmates, or that patients recovering from a surgery who had the view of a park recovered significantly quicker and reported fewer side effects than patients who had the view of a brick wall. The author also shared lots of stories from her own life and the lives of people she has met, and it was heartwarming to see how nature touches so many different people in so many ways.

I’m very tempted to try cold water swimming after hearing the author discuss her experiences with it.... we will see if I ever feel brave enough to do that lol

[Susan Aldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is often said that being in nature is good for your mental health. In this book, Isabel Hardman makes the case for the 'natural health service' – describing her own experiences and those of others with mental health issues, as well as presenting many convincing scientific studies. So, whether it's gardening, Parkrun, urban wildlife or birdwatching (just a few of the many examples and ideas for connecting with nature covered in the book), there is something that everyone can enjoy to improve their mental health and wellbeing. I was particularly struck by the 'manifesto' in the final chapter, calling on decision-makers to prioritise put contact with nature, for we are losing our green spaces and wildlife at an alarming rate. I am lucky enough to live in an suburban area where I am surrounded by trees, but if you look at the blocks of flats/offices going up all around London you have to ask 'where's the green space?' (although obviously we are also lucky to have some amazing parks and open spaces that can be enjoyed and it is well worth the effort to travel to one). I am hoping this book will be widely read!

[Abi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!

Isabel Hardman writes so honestly about her own mental health struggles, giving us instant trust in her as our author. She outlines and details how the outdoors and nature can literally heal us from mental illness, whilst backing up her argument with scientific research results and her own evidence gained through interviews with - often anonymous - individuals who suffer with mental health issues.

The work she put into writing this book is clear from the offset. She creates a broad account of how The Natural Health Service helps anyone who is struggling mentally, from those with PTSD, to bi-polar disorder patients, to those struggling with generalised and/ or specific anxieties. Her knowledge of mental health disorders is believeable and forthright.

I gained some truly inspiring ideas of how to enjoy the great outdoors whilst also allowing it to heal my mind. And her writing has made me want to actively get out and start!

I genuinely believe that everyone should read this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was fascinated by the premise of this book so requested it and I am glad I did because I found all the Hardman had to say about the Natural Health Service really interesting. Basically it is a call to get outdoors into nature. Although not extensively scientifically proven, it does appear that being out in the natural environment, whether running, cycling, walking, cold water swimming, horse riding, bird watching; has a benefit.

Hardman does delve into the placebo effect. She talks about whether access to these forms of therapy are available to all, which they aren't really. She talks about how mental health isn't given the same priority or funding as certain physical ailments.

It was all rather interesting and thought provoking.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the review copy.

[Megan Wills · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do think the title of this book is misleading as it refers to alternative ways to help your mental health. As it is including things I would not consider as 'nature' activities i.e. Running, having a dog and riding horses. As someone who is very involved in ecotherapies and hospital green spaces I wanted more on actually connecting with nature and maybe even how hospitals are utilising green spaces. I also didn't like where it mentioned having a dog in a care home was better than a vegetable patch, given the strong clinical benefits of the latter. However despite my issues with the breadth of research and the title, this book has lots of great ideas on activities that may help improve mental wellbeing. Very helpful for those of us who have such struggles. I'm giving it 3 1\2 stars but that's not an option!