Green Connections (Closed)

Green Connections was our wonderful ecotherapy service in partnership with Wellness Without Walls. It has sadly now finished but at-home resources will be coming soon.

Our Green Connections service has now finished. There are no further new sessions coming.

But our at-home resources will be coming soon. These will be designed to help you build a connection with nature to benefit your mental health from your own home.

What is Nature Connectedness?

‘Nature connectedness’ is the term used to describe the relationship between people and the rest of nature. Many studies have shown that spending time in natural places, being in contact with nature, and looking after plants and animals, can benefit and improve our mental wellbeing.

We tend to spend a lot of time lost in our thoughts, our worries, ‘to do’ lists and plans for the future. Sometimes it’s difficult to be in the present, to appreciate the now, and focus on just ‘being’ – but nature can help you to do that.

Nature invites you to pause and look around you. It can help you to feel part of something bigger than you. It can help you to feel calmer and more positive.

 

What was the Green Connections Service?

Our Green Connections Service provided a retreat-type environment for you to support your mental health and wellbeing by experiencing the many benefits of getting outside, slowing down, and connecting with nature.

Whether it is raining or sunny, or even snowing, activities were provided in line with the changing seasons and include varying horticultural activities, conservation activities, natural art and crafts, and ‘forest bathing’.

We used to run two different versions of the service, in two different locations:

  • Fortnightly 90-minute sessions at Hannah Fields Community Garden, Littleover, Derby
  • Monthly full-day sessions at Whistlewood Common, near Melbourne, South Derbyshire

Both versions of the service were based on the same principles of connecting with nature to improve our mental wellbeing.

Sessions were delivered by our partner, Wellness Without Walls. Their experienced practitioners provide a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere, and all activities are optional.

Our Derbyshire Mind volunteers will be there to welcome and support you too.

Where was the Green Connections Service held?

Green Connections at Hannah Fields

Spend a peaceful 90 minutes at the beautiful Hannah Fields site, a community garden hidden away in Littleover, Derby, to see how nature benefits your mental wellbeing.

You will be gently supported through one or two optional activities, enabling you to connect with nature, connect with each other, and connect with your own mental health. 

You will leave the session feeling more relaxed and knowledgeable about how you can continue to use the benefits of nature to support your mental health.

Green Connections at Whistlewood Common

Spend a peaceful and enjoyable day surrounded by nature and trees at the beautiful Whistlewood Common, a community site near Melbourne in South Derbyshire, to see how nature benefits your mental wellbeing.

You will be gently supported through a range of activities to connect with nature, connect with each other, and connect with yourselves and your own mental health. 

You will leave at the end of the day feeling more relaxed and knowledgeable about how you can continue to use the benefits of nature to support your mental health.

 

 

Book your Place

Green Connections service has now finished. But our at-home resources will be coming soon. These will be designed to help you build a connection with nature to benefit your mental health from your own home.

Try 'Forest Bathing'

Forest Bathing is a Japanese practice and is a process of relaxation; known in Japan as ‘shinrin yoku’. It involves a simple method of being calm and quiet amongst the trees, enjoying nature around you whilst breathing deeply. It has been shown to help us de-stress and boost our health and wellbeing in a completely natural way. We offer Forest Bathing at Green Connections!

Our Green Connections Partners

We are really pleased to be working in partnership with Wellness Without Walls to deliver this Green Connections service.

Anne Bramley, who leads the service, is a Forest Therapies Practitioner and a Certified Forest Bathing Guide. ​

Learn more about Wellness without Walls by visiting their website: wellnesswithoutwalls.co.uk

We are grateful to Toyota Charitable Trust whose generous donation funded our original Green Connections service, run at Whistlewood Common.

Their second donation has allowed us to expand the service to include delivery at Hannah Fields in 2022.

Without their support this service wouldn’t have been possible for us to run – so a huge thank you to Julie and all of the other fundraisers!