A core part of the NHS 10-Year Plan is the creation of 250–300 neighbourhood health hubs that will bring together physical and mental health services, social care and rehabilitation. These are precisely the spaces where STH can contribute meaningfully — wouldn’t it be great to see more STH in localised communities helping people manage long-term conditions, rebuild confidence after ill health, and reconnect through shared activity in green spaces.
As prevention becomes a national priority, we must strengthen how we demonstrate the unique role STH plays in helping people stay well, not just get well. Evidence shows that structured horticulture sessions can reduce anxiety and depression, improve physical activity, promote healthy eating, and support people managing conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and chronic stress. By encouraging healthy habits in an inclusive and accessible way, STH is a natural fit for the move toward preventative, person-centred models of care.
Digital transformation also features prominently, with the NHS App becoming a central route to book services, self-refer and access records. For STH organisations, this is a crucial consideration; we must ensure our services are visible and accessible in these new pathways. That means adapting how we present, receive referrals and evidence our impact—while continuing to prioritise those for whom digital access remains a barrier.
However, the ambitions of this plan sit alongside significant NHS system change. With NHS England being disbanded and responsibilities devolving to local bodies, we’re entering a period of change management and restructuring. While this may slow down the pace of adoption for new initiatives like ours, it also likely means more local engagement, partnerships and pilot projects. The government is actively seeking solutions—are we ready to step up and show that STH should be one of them?
As the NHS reshapes around prevention and community-based care, this is a critical moment for STH providers and policymakers alike. We must work together to embed STH into neighbourhood health hubs as a proven intervention for mental and physical wellbeing. At Thrive, in the coming year we will be working to strengthen our economic impact data, better demonstrating how STH reduces demand on overstretched services.
Let’s ensure STH is recognised not just as a rare complementary service, but as a vital and regular component of a sustainable, preventative NHS!
