Lianne shares this latest news from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Ed
The Isle of Wight Woodland Therapy Project, which supports adults living with mental health conditions through access to nature, has been nominated for the National Lottery Awards.
The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust project is one of fourteen shortlisted from 600 across the country. Sessions are run at the Trust’s Bouldnor Forest nature reserve near Yarmouth, where staff use the ‘Forest School’ approach to support self-esteem, self-confidence, independence and resilience by spending weekly sessions in the woodland, taking part in campfire cooking, green woodwork projects, rural crafts and wildlife watching.
The four year project has been funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities Fund, with match funding from the Nineveh Charitable Trust, Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust, and D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust. Since September last year, eighteen people have benefited from the sessions.
Could go to the public vote
Education Officer Kathy Grogan, who has been running the group since 2013 with her colleague Ric Temple, is delighted by the news.
Kathy said,
“If we’re short-listed to the final seven, it will go out to a public vote for the winner in June, but even to be selected at this stage is great recognition of how nature can support our mental health and well-being, and a testament to everyone involved in the project.”
If you would like to join the Woodland Therapy group or come along as a volunteer, please get in touch with Kathy on [email protected].
Image: © Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
