GP practices in north Cumbria have formed a unique new partnership with Watchtree Nature Reserve to help improve patients’ health and wellbeing.

Surgeries in Keswick, Aspatria, Wigton, Silloth, Kirkbride, Caldbeck and Dalston have joined together as the Keswick and Solway Primary Care Network, which launched on July 1.

Dr Richard Massey, its new clinical director, said the nature reserve is a great community asset and they will be looking at new ways they can encourage people to access it, to improve wider health and wellbeing.

He said it is all part of work to develop Integrated Care Communities (ICCs) across north and west Cumbria. These care hubs aim to bring together NHS, social care and other community organisations to develop services that meet the needs of the population in each local area.

Dr Massey said: “In making this commitment we are agreeing to focus our efforts on proactive work to improve the health and wellbeing of our population.

“Watchtree Nature Reserve is a fantastic example of an inclusive and accessible community asset. We would like to develop stronger ties with the team here and find new ways to encourage our communities to make use of the reserve.”

Each GP surgery in the primary care network already has a Living Well Coach. This new role is supporting people to take control of their health and wellbeing and signposting patients to other sources of support.

Senga Grave, from Watchtree Nature Reserve, said: “We are thrilled that Keswick and Solway Primary Care Network have encouraged their communities to experience Watchtree and its array of activities. We look forward to working together and continue to promote nature, health and wellbeing.”

Watchtree Nature Reserve is a not-for-profit charity that merges nature with health and wellbeing.

It encourages outdoor activities within the local community through weekly events such as:

• a popular 5k and 10k run every Sunday at 9.30am

• a walk-fit group that is on the second and fourth Sunday of every month at 10am

• a Walking For Health group on Mondays at 10am

• a Ready Steady Mums walking group on Tuesday at 11am

Senga added: “All of these activities are free and are run on a ‘just turn up’ basis, so there is no pressure to be there every week.”

They have a fleet of bicycles to hire for all abilities.