Fran Kirby: from park practice to winning the Euros –how nature has helped shape her game
Credit: WWF-UK / Playing Field and ITV Sport.
England footballer Fran Kirby has teamed up with WWF, revealing how time outdoors has supported her, from childhood kickabouts to post-tournament recovery. From using trees as goalposts to walks in nature to reset after global tournaments, Fran shares how the natural world has been key to her mental and physical wellbeing. Fran is encouraging the public to get their own daily dose of nature - whether it’s a park stroll or a moment under the trees – for a healthier body and mind.
Following her recent retirement from international football, former England midfielder Fran Kirby has teamed up with WWF with a new video for their ‘A Prescription for Nature’ campaign – just as the Women’s Euros 2025 kick off this week.
Reflecting on her life and career, Fran opened up about how nature has been a constant source of calm and inspiration – from growing up practicing football in the park using trees as goalposts, to decompressing after some of her most high-pressure matches on the world stage.
As someone who has experienced the intense highs and lows of elite sport, Fran understands the value of switching off and reconnecting with the natural world. Whether it’s taking her dog for a walk, going for a quiet stroll to clear her head, or simply sitting outside after a game, she’s now encouraging others to find time for nature in their everyday lives – for both mental and physical wellbeing.
Fran said: “Playing football at the highest level can be quite stressful at times. During the Euros I would go for a walk in the evening and get away from camp and feel like a human being again rather than a footballer. When I’m out in nature it’s about calming me down, it’s about being able to refocus, shift my mindset and reset.”
Our most natural health supplement is under threat
Nature is one of our most powerful, free health resources. Research shows that just 20 minutes a day in nature can significantly reduce stress, improve mood, and even lower key risk factors for conditions such as heart disease [1]. In recent WWF polling, 89% of the UK public say spending time in nature has a positive effect on their mental health, while nearly three quarters (73%) say they feel calm and 61% feel happier in nature [2].
But nature itself is in crisis. The UK ranks in the bottom 10% globally for biodiversity [3], and for many - especially those in urban areas - spending time in the natural environment is increasingly out of reach. Nearly half of people surveyed by WWF said they wish they spent more time in nature, while 70% believe not enough is being done to protect our natural world [2].
Through A Prescription for Nature, WWF is highlighting that just as nature supports our wellbeing, it urgently needs our support in return. From protecting green spaces to restoring habitats, the more we restore nature, the more it can restore us.
Learn more about WWF’s A Prescription for Nature and how to get your daily dose of nature at wwf.org.uk/prescription-for-nature
[1] Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. Sci Rep 9, 7730. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44097-3
[2] More In Common x WWF research – August 2024
[3] State of Nature Report (2023). WWF and State of Nature partners. Access here.