St Katherines School Project in Pill 2024
Feedback and evaluation from our project with St Katherine’s school established that the majority of the group had little connection with or experience of the natural environment. Following 5 sessions the group indicated growing levels of well-being benefits and a new interest and connection with nature. The majority of the group indicated they felt less anxious and happier following sessions. We also picked up on some of the group being uncertain about attending and being unsure if they would enjoy the project at the start. One individual left early on the first session due to feeling overwhelmed and worried about the physical space – by the end of the sessions she reflected on how much she had enjoyed it and she now liked the space, felt more relaxed and happier too.
An LSA member of staff accompanying the group each week gave this personal feedback – ‘From a personal perspective each session in the woods has been a tonic! It has also allowed me to witness our young people succeeding in things and exploring which has deepened my understanding of them and my working relationships with them. Every member of the group has wanted to return each week and been enthusiastic about it – which is saying something for teenage girls!’
Further feedback provided from school staff on our current pilot provided the following: ‘On the first session one student said that she was scared of the woods when we arrived as she had ‘never been in them before’. At the end of her fourth session we were walking back and she said she wished she could stay longer. I asked if she’d like to do a session at the end of the day and she was delighted. She said ‘Yes! Then we can stay as long as we want and we can all have our tea together by the fire!’.
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust Well-being Garden 2023
This project in Devizes has involved creating a well-being garden for staff and service users on the hospital site.
Initial consultation with staff and service users resulted in some seating, raised beds – with planting spaces and a small sand pit for creative play. Around this is some perimeter willow planting to define the space and create an instant leafy effect.
The garden has been launched with planting of the raised beds with herbs and edible plants and sowing some seeds. Staff and service users will visit regularly to water and add to the planting as well as enjoying spending time in the space.
Next steps in the project will be to provide staff with creative ideas to engage service users with plants and connect with nature. We will be looking at some training/engagement sessions and some signs and QR codes linked to easy to follow self delivered activities to support this.
‘We need to find ways for everyone to have a close relationship to nature because it’s good for wellbeing and its good for a sustainable future.’
More from Miles Richardson Professor of nature connectedness at University of Derby
