About

The Greater Manchester Nature for Health Steering Group is a partnership committed to growing and delivering Green Social Prescribing and new approaches to nature-based health interventions, particularly within communities facing the biggest health inequalities across Greater Manchester.

The Greater Manchester Nature for Health Steering Group will act as a voice for the health and environmental sector, including community focused nature-based activity providers, their service users and link-workers across the sector in Greater Manchester.

The group will provide leadership and resources to the network within Greater Manchester to help grow formal green social prescribing offers, whilst encouraging the broader sense of nature-connectedness and community-led environmental activity.

Membership will be considered on an ad-hoc basis and formally reviewed on a 12-month rolling basis based on need.   The role of Chair will be reviewed on a 12-month rolling basis. 

Objectives

  • To act on behalf of and represent Green Social Prescribing service users & link workers across the network.
  • To share data & evidence and skills & knowledge of Green Social Prescribing across the network and beyond.
  • Support, promote & communicate delivery of Green Social Prescribing across the network and beyond.
  • Promote collaboration between members of the network.
  • Identify new and sustained sources of funding for Green Social Prescribing activities within Greater Manchester and beyond.
  • Lobby and influence for Green Social Prescribing, within policy & within the health sector in Greater Manchester and beyond.

Membership

Chair: Jessica Thompson, CEO, City of Trees

Current members:

  • Aimee Lawless, Communications Manager, City of Trees 
  • Bruce Poole, Strategic Lead for Person Centred and Community Approaches, Salford CVS 
  • Charlotte Leonhardsen, Programme Manager – Person and Community Centred Approaches/Social Prescribing lead, NHS GM Integrated Care Partnership 
  • Chloe Orford- Desmond, Nature and Wellbeing Officer, Lancashire Wildlife Trust 
  • Francine Hayforn, Cultural Park Keeper, The Whitworth, University of Manchester 
  • George Coombs, Senior Advisor – Health and Environment (North West), Natural England 
  • Jennifer Lea, Nature and Wellbeing Senior Officer, Lancashire Wildlife Trust 
  • Jon Myint, Programme Manager: People and Communities Team, GM Integrated Care Partnership 
  • Jon Ross, Founder and Director, Sow the City 
  • Kerry Garner, Project Officer (Communities), Royal Horticultural Society 
  • Kieron McGlasson, Director, Sow the City 
  • Lauren Urquhart, Citizen Forester Engagement Officer, City of Trees 
  • Michaela Howell, Head of Communities, Groundwork GM 
  • Rachel Bennion, Petrus Service Manager, Petrus 
  • Rhoda Wilkinson, Nature and Wellbeing Manager, Lancashire Wildlife Trust 
  • Ruth Crawford, Senior Project Officer, The Conservation Volunteers 
  • Samuel Evans, Head of Natural Environment, Greater Manchester Combined Authority 
  • Silvana Devine, Wellbeing and Engagement Service Manager, Petrus 
  • Tara Kinsella, Food for All Service Manager, Manchester Mind 

2024-25 meeting schedule

If you would like to contact the Steering Group for any reason (such as to raise an item for the next agenda; request a guest slot; or, express your interest in becoming a member) please contact the group by emailing natureforhealth@cityoftrees.org.uk

Please provide adequate notice ahead of upcoming meetings.

  • Tuesday 9th July 10am-12pm

Previous meeting agendas & actions

Please visit the link below for a copy of agenda and action notes from the steering group meetings:

Supporting documents