The Science of Healing Outdoors: Why Nature Makes Us Feel Better
At Star 6 Ranch Foundation, we’ve long believed something you might already feel in your bones: nature heals. But it’s more than a feeling — it’s science. Research across the globe, including right here in Canada, is confirming what many Indigenous and land-connected communities have known for generations: time spent in natural environments has measurable, lasting benefits on our health and wellbeing.
Let’s dig into why this works.
Nature Isn’t Just Nice. It’s Necessary.
For centuries, human beings lived in close relationship with the natural world. Our bodies, minds, and spirits evolved to respond to birdsong, to running water, to the rustle of trees. When we step into green or blue spaces — whether a forest or a lakeshore—our nervous systems begin to calm.
Research shows that exposure to nature is strongly associated with reductions in stress, depression, and anxiety, and improvements in cognitive functioning and self-esteem (Maund et al., 2019; Gray et al., 2024). Even brief time outdoors can help us feel more grounded, clear-headed, and connected.
One large study in the UK found that people who spent time in wetlands — spaces rich in water, plant life, and birds — experienced significant improvements in mental health (Maund et al., 2019). These spaces helped people breathe deeper, feel less anxious, and reconnect with themselves.
A Remedy for Our Urban Lives
Modern life pulls us away from nature. Screens glow late into the night. Concrete replaces soil. We rush from one thing to the next. It’s no surprise that mood disorders are 39% more common in cities than in rural areas (Peen et al., 2010). But research tells us that greener communities report better mental health overall — and stronger connections with others (Gray et al., 2024).
Nature doesn’t just heal individuals. It builds communities.
At the Star 6 Ranch Foundation, we see this firsthand when people come together to garden, hike, or sit around a fire. The land holds space for relationships to grow — gently, patiently, without judgment.
Prescribing Trees and Trails
The idea that doctors might prescribe time outdoors once seemed radical. Now, it’s slowly becoming part of mainstream health care in Canada. In fact, doctors in Canada are now prescribing time outdoors through programs like PaRx. The program recommends 2+ hours in nature per week, encouraging clinicians to treat stress, anxiety, and chronic conditions with green time.
It’s a movement that’s catching on — because it works.
“Green spaces offer different opportunities for physical exercise, psychological restoration, and social connections, leading to different mental health outcomes.”
— Gray et al., 2024
New Evidence: Green Social Prescribing Really Works
In 2024, a major UK research project added powerful evidence: a cross-government funded initiative led by the University of Exeter studied over 8,000 people participating in Green Social Prescribing — a structured process where people with mental health needs are supported in joining nature-based activities like gardening, walking, conservation, or talking therapies outdoors.
The results were striking.
“After the group I feel joyful, happy, calm. I have a sense of achievement and I feel my wellbeing increasing. I look forward to attending.”
— Participant, Green Social Prescribing pilot
Before joining, participants reported lower-than-average scores in happiness, life satisfaction, and anxiety. After completing the program, those same participants reported:
Higher happiness levels
Significantly reduced anxiety
Improved sense of life purpose and satisfaction
Not only did wellbeing improve, but the model reached populations often underserved by traditional therapy, including children, youth, and individuals for whom standard treatments (like CBT or medication) were less effective or accessible.
“It works better than medication for me. It works better than CBT for me... This is on par with counselling.”
— Participant testimonial
Dr. Marion Steiner, a GP in Bristol who was part of the pilot, put it simply:
“Connecting with nature is a lifelong resource with proven benefits for mental and physical health. It can cut through generations of adverse life events.”
Land as Partner in Healing
For the Star 6 Ranch Foundation, nature isn’t a backdrop — it’s a co-facilitator. We build our programs around nature because it’s where transformation begins. Our work removes barriers to nature — barriers that are often social, cultural, economic, or systemic. Whether it’s a walk in the forest, a morning in the garden, or time with a horse, our programs are designed to reconnect people with the land and with themselves
Our nature-based activities invite:
Youth to build resilience and leadership
Families to reconnect outside of daily stress
Communities to heal together through shared outdoor experiences
Because when we support access to nature, we’re not just offering fresh air.
We’re offering hope, healing, and a path forward.
Useful References
Gray, D., Hewlett, D., Hammon, J., & Aburrow, S. (2024). (Re)Connecting with nature: Exploring nature-based interventions for psychological health and wellbeing. In N. Finneran, D. Hewlett, & R. Clarke (Eds.), Managing Protected Areas (pp. 143–160). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40783-3_9
Haywood, A., Dayson, C., Garside, R., Foster, A., Lovell, R., Husk, K., Holding, E., Thompson, J., Shearn, K., Hunt, H.A., Dobson, J., Harris, C., Jacques, R., Witherley, D., Northall, P., Baumann, M., Wilson, I. National Evaluation of the Preventing and Tackling Mental Ill Health through Green Social Prescribing Project: Final Report. January 2024. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (London).
Maund, P. R., Irvine, K. N., Reeves, J., Strong, E., Cromie, R., Dallimer, M., & Davies, Z. G. (2019). Wetlands for wellbeing: Piloting a nature-based health intervention for the management of anxiety and depression. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(22), 4413. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16224413
Peen, J., Schoevers, R. A., Beekman, A. T., & Dekker, J. (2010). The current status of urban-rural differences in psychiatric disorders. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 121(2), 84–93. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2009.01438.x
Reed, A. C., Haldane, V., Mincer, J., McDermott, E., & Rawlyk, B. (2021). Nature prescribing in Canada: A trainee led discussion on implementation and educational opportunities. The Journal of Climate Change and Health, 4, 100040. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joclim.2021.100040
Shanahan, D. F., Bush, R., Gaston, K. J., Lin, B. B., Dean, J., Barber, E., & Fuller, R. A. (2016). Health benefits from nature experiences depend on dose. Scientific Reports, 6, 28551. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep28551