Investigating the causal mechanisms associated with urban biodiversity and the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases through green prescribing

In response to increasingly complex population-level non-communicable diseases alongside mental health conditions, urban greenspace is being positioned as a nature-based solution to improve population health. Despite emerging evidence about the health benefits of urban biodiverse greenspace, little is known about the therapeutic characteristics of biodiversity itself and, in turn, how to design urban biodiverse initiatives to maximise health and wellbeing. The research aims to improve understanding of the underlying causal mechanisms related to urban biodiversity that can help prevent and treat non-communicable diseases equitably, alongside how to best design such spaces to maximise health impacts. The study will employ a mixed-methods design involving: a meta-narrative review; real-time data collected via a citizen-science app alongside interviews. Participants will include green prescription patients, local residents and providers. The findings will advance scientific understandings of urban biodiverse greenspace, public health and health services, alongside providing practical applications for policymakers and practitioners, and an agenda for future research.