NHS should spend millions on nature-for-health plan, say wildlife groups

Proposal is part of a wider plan put forward by the RSPB, National Trust and 24 other groups on how the government should protect and restore UK flora and fauna

NHS England should spend millions of pounds on using nature to prevent illness and help people recover from health problems, according to a coalition of wildlife groups representing millions of people.

In a report to be launched on Tuesday by broadcaster and naturalist Steve Backshall, the 26 nature organisations call for 1% of NHS England's 1.8bn public health budget to be spent on helping people access green spaces and the coastline to tackle obesity and mental illness.