1. Connecting Communities
through Action

1.5 Connecting with Nature

Connecting adults with nature for improved mental wellbeing.

Project Summary

This project will connect hard to reach groups to the Trent Valley Landscape and examine the effect of this connection has on mental health and wellbeing. Thirty individuals each year over 3 years will be connected to their local and wider landscapes and begin to understand the river, wetlands and heritage of the area. A 9-week programme using ‘forest school’ type methods will connect people with nature and demonstrate how this can improve mental health and wellbeing. The University of Derby will be supporting collection and analysis of data and production of a final project evaluation report.

Legacy

A key legacy for this project will be to link participating groups with partnership organisations who have historically not engaged with hard to reach groups.

By evidencing the link between mental wellbeing and connecting to nature, other organisations, such as NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups, may be inspired to prescribe nature based activities for adults.

Transforming the Trent Valley

Lead Organisation