Green Prescriptions

For most people, a visit to the doctor ends with a prescription for some medicine and a trip to

the pharmacy. But what if your doctor prescribed a walk in the park or on the beach, instead of

pills? In some countries, that is what is happening.

In four provinces in Canada, doctors are now advising their patients to spend time in nature, and

are even giving free access to the country's national parks and beaches. New Zealand was the

first country to issue 'green prescriptions', from the late $1990$s$,$ and the UK started twenty years

later. Meanwhile in Japan, the advantages of 'forest$-$bathing' have been promoted since $1982.$

The World Health Organization $($WHO$)$ describes nature as the greatest support for our health

and wellbeing. The positive effects of nature on mental health have long been recognized, but

now green prescriptions are being used to help treat physical conditions like high blood

pressure, diabetes and lung diseases. Being outdoors in natural places has also been shown to

improve sleep, reduce stress, and increase memory, attention and creativity. In Finland, the

minimum recommended monthly time in nature is five hours.

a The text says that most people go to the

after visiting their doctor.

b The first country to realize that nature was good for our health was

c The UK started giving people 'green prescriptions' around

d People have known for a long time that nature is good for our

health.

e Going outside to spend time in nature can help you to

f Doctors in Finland say people shouldn't spend less than five hours every

in nature.