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An Action Plan for Greener Prisons

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An Action Plan for Greener Prisons An Action Plan for Greener Prisons Accessing nature in prisons: Benefits to wellbeing & rehabilitation For more information, contact Harmony Project Manager and author Bonnie Welch, [email protected] The Harmony Project is part of the Sustainable Food Trust An Action Plan for Greener Prisons | 3 Contents Introduction 4 Context 6 Our recommendations 8 Interior design 9 Exterior design 13 Education 16 Next Steps 18 For more information, contact Harmony Project Manager and author Bonnie Welch, [email protected] Introduction This report demonstrates the potential for potential for prisons to provide more green greener prisons to improve prisoner and spaces and/or opportunities for prisoners staff wellbeing and reduce reoffending. to engage in outdoor activities such as It draws on research linking environmental gardening and horticulture, with the aim factors (including access to the natural of improving mental and physical health, world, having the opportunity to grow reconnecting prisoners with the natural food and work with animals) with world, reducing reoffending and providing improved mental wellbeing, including routes to employment for ex-offenders. psychological restoration, reduced stress, anxiety and depression, improved self- The report also draws on our work with esteem, confidence and mood, increased HMP Bristol, a Category B men’s prison attentional capacity and cognition and with an operational capacity of 520,9 to improved happiness.1,2 examine how ‘greening’ prisons in the UK could create a more harmonious Studies also suggest that active hands- environment for prison residents and staff. on engagement with nature is effective Our goal was to identify potential areas of in supporting marginalised people improvement at the prison with the hope to reintegrate into society.3 This is a that these would be implemented and result of facilitating skills development, could act as a case-study to offer practical which builds self-confidence, provides steps for other UK prisons. meaningful activity and develops a deeper sense of responsibility.4 The UK National Shortly after the project began in Ecosystem Assessment in 2011 concluded 2019, HMP Bristol received an Urgent that observing nature and participating Notification from HM Chief Inspector in physical activity in green spaces can of Prisons stating that the Inspectorate “positively influence health and provide had “numerous significant concerns a catalyst for behaviour change in terms about the treatment and conditions of of encouraging the adoption of healthier prisoners”.10 This resulted in a change of lifestyles”.5 Within a prison context, leadership at the prison, with the new team horticultural programmes in particular in agreement that greener prisons could have been proven to offer multiple achieve positive outcomes for prisoner benefits to prisoners, including fostering well-being. rehabilitation.6,7 Our discussions and dialogue with staff The report is launched against the and residents allowed us greater insight backdrop of a drastic decline in the into the opportunities within HMP number of prison farms in the UK in Bristol for delivering this work. Although recent years.8 Nevertheless, we see a huge originally designed for HMP Bristol, the An Action Plan for Greener Prisons | 5 recommendations outlined in this report could easily be adapted to suit other prison In support of this report, Rory Stewart, environments in the UK. Former Minister of State for Prisons and Probation says: As set out in this report, we recommend “Providing decent, safe, and positive that prisons across the UK look to adopt environments for prisoners through policies that provide increased access engagement with the natural world is not to nature, including the planting of only a moral obligation, it also ultimately pollinator friendly plants and improved keeps the public safe through addressing educational training such as gardening and many of the issues that lead to reoffending. horticulture, animal husbandry and other land-based activities. A full outline of our It has long been clear that connections to recommendations can be found on page 8. nature, to the outdoors, to gardening and food production are deeply important for Whilst we understand that the my mental and physical health. Recent recommendations set out in this report scientific research amply confirms this. cannot address all of the challenges facing HMP Bristol, our hope is that they help If we do not work to rehabilitate prisoners the prison tackle some of the problems through such programmes and many other associated with mental and physical health programmes in education and psychology and adopt a perspective that is forward- - it will harm not just the prisoners looking, innovative and harmonious. themselves but the public too - because prisoners, who have been poorly treated, will be much more likely to reoffend on release. We should be hugely grateful to the Sustainable Food Trust for bringing together such an important and valuable contribution to prisons and broader society.” For more information, contact Harmony Project Manager and author Bonnie Welch, [email protected] Context The prison system today Prison farms Since 1900, the prison population of In recent years, the number of prison England and Wales has quadrupled in farms (defined as larger than 60 acres size. While this is broadly in line with of arable or livestock production) has population growth, approximately half declined significantly in the UK.18 Between of the increase has occurred since 1997, 2002 and 2005, the prison service reduced resulting in prison overcrowding and its farming commitment from twenty- substandard living conditions.11 This three farms to the current five (North increasing pressure has put a huge Sea Camp, Prescoed, Hewell, East Sutton financial burden on Her Majesty’s Prison Park and Kirkham).19 According to the Service (HMPS), on the Government Ministry of Justice, the primary objective and on taxpayers, contributing to many of the remaining prison farms is to provide physical and mental health problems for vocational skills and qualifications to help prisoners, including diet-related ill-health improve the employment opportunities of and a growing sense of isolation.12 Despite prisoners upon release, with no profit to 97% of prisoners expressing a desire to be made from prison farms.20 This is partly stop offending, rates of reoffending in the due to the relatively high ratios of prisoner UK have not fallen in recent years.13 Up to supervision required to maintain safety. 48% of those who spend time in prison will This shift in focus away from agriculture go on to reoffend within a year.14 meant that the remaining prison farms would offer training in “modern skills” It has been shown that ex-offenders in other than farming, such as dry-stone employment are between 6% and 9% less walling, fence building and horticulture.21 likely to commit further crime, however at Media at the time suggested that this present only 17% are in P45 employment decision was made because more prisoners one year after release.15,16 Critically, were from urban backgrounds and that unemployment can heighten isolation at a there was a decreasing need for people time when societal reintegration is crucial, in agriculture.22 Despite this, there is increasing the likelihood of recidivism. horticulture work going on in a number This comes at a direct cost to the welfare of prisons around the country with system. Government estimates show that some prisons offering qualifications in the high rate of reoffending costs taxpayers horticulture.23 Examples of these can be £18 billion per year.17 found later on in this report. An Action Plan for Greener Prisons | 7 For low-risk Category C prisons or Category D ‘open prisons’ in the UK,24 farming and horticultural facilities present an opportunity to connect residents with the land, providing skills development, as well as the mental and physical health benefits that engaging with green environments has been shown to deliver.25 Whilst the amount of available land, particularly attached to inner-city prisons like HMP Bristol, limits options for delivering land-based activities, the SFT sees an opportunity for HMPS to re-evaluate the significant longer-term benefits that greener prisons can provide all prison residents, both in terms of skills development, and improving wellbeing. At HMP Bristol, small scale horticultural projects, gardening and nutritional education are all within reach. We recommend that HMPS look to offer further support for the development of such facilities in prisons across the UK. For more information, contact Harmony Project Manager and author Bonnie Welch, [email protected] Our recommendations Prisons across the UK face significant Our recommendations fall into three and diverse challenges. The Government distinct but connected categories: interior has now recognised the urgent need for design, exterior design and education. innovative solutions by allowing prison governors greater flexibility and control. We recommend that prisons across the UK This presents an opportunity to adopt look to: policies that create greener prisons and could see increased support for growing • Create a more harmonious interior spaces, nature-inspired design, and through colour therapy improved educational training to help • Optimise natural light and the presence tackle the growing problems associated of indoor plants with mental health,
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