'Birdsong and forest baths' prescribed by doctors in the Cairngorms

Nature prescriptions such as listening to birdsong and taking a walk are being offered by GPs in the Cairngorms National Park.

Those with ailments are paired up with guides to show them how being outdoors can help them recover from and combat certain ailments.

It is hoped nature prescriptions will help tackle a range of conditions such as high blood pressure and anxiety, and improve sleep quality, memory and concentration, and the immune system.

The GPs are partnering patients with Green Health Link Workers through the Cairngorms 2030 Project, which aims to make the area the first net zero park in the UK.

Activities include guided walks, forest baths or even getting out into their own garden.

It comes after a successful nature prescription pilot was run in Edinburgh in 2020.

This was followed by rollouts in Orkney and Shetland.

After first being trialled in Shetland and across five GP practices in Edinburgh, 74% of patients reported having benefited from the prescription, and 91% of health professionals stated that they would continue to offer nature prescriptions.