Woodland Wellbeing age 5+ - Friday

Fully funded A drop-in session for home educating families to support the whole family's mental health, enjoy time together in nature and improve mental wellbeing. These sessions are open to all home educating families.

Nature connection is about our relationship with nature – how we think about, feel about, and experience nature. When we feel very close to nature, we recognise ourselves as part of the natural world, and value our relationship with it. The benefits of nature connection include; improved mental wellbeing, more pro-environmental behaviours, greater vitality and happiness, feeling more satisfied with life and greater meaning and purpose in life. Having a strong sense of connection to nature really helps people feel good and function well.

These sessions offer families the chance to come together and take part in activities that support them to feel closer to nature, build a community, learn new skills and explore the seasonal changes of the woodland environment. All activities respond to the seasonal changes in the woodland, use creative practices and explore the natural resources available. We will make organic art materials including paints, dyes, charcoal and inks and use these resources to make artwork inspired by the woodland. We will create land art responding to the changing seasons, write poetry, explore nature photography, learn basic foraging and celebrate the seasonal festivals; Spring and Autumn Equinoxes and Winter and Summer Solstices. We will make bird feeders, bug habitats and learn conservation skills. We will develop mindful techniques such as ‘sit spots’ a reflective and meditative practice that immerses us in a natural environment.