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Representation ID: 15292

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Natural England

Policy HW1 – Health and Wellbeing

We welcome this policy direction, specifically in reference to environmentally sustainable travel, energy efficiency, climate change, water and air quality, green and blue infrastructure.

The natural environment affords the best ‘natural’ play opportunities for children while offering multi- functional nature based solutions to climate change etc. These can be blended into wildlife rich green infrastructure and green open spaces that can act as destination play sites for local children (See best practice at Play England and Play Wales ) that have proven health and wellbeing value.

Evidence for nature play and health:
Play, naturally: a review of children’s natural play
Nature for health and wellbeing | The Wildlife Trusts
Good practice in social prescribing for mental health: the role of nature-based interventions - NECR228 (naturalengland.org.uk)