Getting Outdoors to Rethink Your Drinking: A Green Path to Sobriety

In a world that often sells self-care in the form of bath bombs and pricey yoga classes, what if the best therapy was just outside your front door?

In this episode of Club Soda’s “Meet the Scholar,” Claire Davey chats with Wendy Masterton, a PhD researcher at the University of Stirling, whose work delves into how green spaces can support people looking to change their relationship with alcohol. With a warm blend of research insight and lived experience, Wendy’s story reminds us that nature may just be the most overlooked sobriety support tool out there.

Meet Wendy Masterton

Wendy did her PhD focused on green space, mental health and substance use. Her research explores how time spent in nature – from gardening and forest walks to community allotments – can improve wellbeing and potentially reduce harmful drinking.

Her interest isn’t just academic. Wendy grew up active in the outdoors and later worked in a residential school, where she saw first-hand how outdoor education helped young people dealing with anxiety and difficult family circumstances.

“It’s not just about a walk in the park. It’s about changing how people feel about themselves.”

The Magic of Green Space

Green space isn’t just forests and fields – it’s any natural or semi-natural area: parks, gardens, allotments, even urban woodlands. Wendy’s research shows that engaging with these spaces through structured programmes can have life-changing effects.

Spending just two hours a week in nature has been linked to significantly better mental health, especially for those already struggling. And given the well-known link between poor mental health and alcohol misuse, that’s a big deal.

“Green space seems to offer even more benefit to people with poor mental health – they experience the biggest changes.”

Why It Works

Wendy’s framework identifies three key pathways where green space supports recovery:

• Individual self – Building confidence, finding a sense of purpose, improving physical health, and shifting self-identity from “problem drinker” to “gardener” or “hiker.”

• Social self – Reducing isolation, forming friendships, and connecting with others in a meaningful way.

• Nature – The calming, grounding effect of being surrounded by green, living things.

“People didn’t just feel better – they felt different. More like themselves again.”

Barriers – and Breaking Them Down

It’s not always easy to just “get outside.” Many face barriers: mobility issues, safety concerns, cost, lack of transport, and even a simple lack of experience or confidence.

And then there are social inequalities. Some communities lack access to safe green spaces or funding for local programmes, while others have beautifully kept National Parks on their doorstep.

Wendy is keen on programmes that truly meet people where they are – and involve them in shaping what support looks like.

“It’s not enough to provide a park. We need programmes that are inclusive, practical, and designed with real people in mind.”

Nature as a Tool for Sobriety

Whether you’re sober curious, cutting back, or living alcohol-free, green space can be a game-changer. It’s not about replacing one “treatment” with another, but about creating space – literally and figuratively – to heal, reflect and connect.

There’s growing support from the government, too, with social prescribing initiatives starting to recognise the value of “green prescriptions.” It’s early days, but the tide is turning.

How to Get Involved

If you’re in the UK and looking to explore green space programmes, check out:

• Trellis – A hub for therapeutic gardening

• Paths for All – Promotes walking and community wellbeing in Scotland

• TCV (The Conservation Volunteers) – Practical conservation opportunities

• Green Health Partnerships – Particularly strong in Scotland

• AllTrails or  GoJauntly for local walks and footpaths and use the Ramblers or Meetup to find local walking groups. 

Your local council or community hub may also list walking groups, gardening projects, and wellbeing walks.

Key Takeaways

• Green space programmes can significantly boost mental health – especially for those navigating substance use.

• Benefits come through physical activity, connection to others, and time in nature.

• There are still barriers to access – but awareness and inclusive design can help.

• You don’t need a forest. A local park, a walk with a group, or a potted plant garden can be enough to start.

• The power of nature lies in its ability to help us reconnect – with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us.