Natural England’s Dr William Bird says the medical world needs to shift to a model of prevention, not just treatment.

Dr William Bird is the Strategic Health Advisor for Natural England developing the Natural Health Service that will use the natural environment as a major health resource in England. He chairs the Outdoor Health Forum that unites all major UK environment organisations to influence health professionals and chairs the National Physical Activity Alliance set up with government to represent all organisations that deliver physical activity outside elite sport.

While as a GP in South Oxfordshire he set up Health Walks and the Green Gym in the late 1990s which are now throughout the UK and Australia using the natural environment to increase physical activity and wellbeing. He is currently setting up the Blue Gym to link the water environment with physical activity.

Dr Bird was a keynote speaker at the 2010 International Healthy Parks Healthy People Congress. In this interview recorded at the Congress he speaks about the urgent need for the medical world to shift from treatment to prevention, and the vital role that parks and nature play in this.