Garden party held to learn more about nature-based wellbeing benefits
The Healing by Nature project is one of several initiatives set up by the Trust to encourage more nature-based approaches in mental health.
Mental health clinicians attended a training pilot earlier this year to learn more about nature-based approaches. The idea also ties in with the Trust's clinical strategy. One of the key objectives is to deliver half of its clinical care outdoors, or in non-traditional spaces.
To showcase the work it is doing, the project held a garden party at Trevillis House in Liskeard recently.
Organisations from across the south west attended the event. They included Natural England, the Eden Project, Newquay Orchards, and Cornwall Council.
The garden party included a number of activities, including an ice bath demonstration, apple pressing and a barbecue.
Peta Temple is an advanced lived experience lead for the Trust. She runs the peer support team.
She says:
"We find things that people are skilled at and passionate about and we really try and capitalize on all of that.
"We first started our service we did an evaluation. What we learned for our particular patient group was they were either too unwell, so too high risk and engaged in too high-risk behaviours to receive a help helping program or we're not unwell enough
"You do not need a diagnosis, you do not need to be under secondary care, you do not need a referral. We exist in these spaces, and we want people to come along and join us. We do it outside, so it does not look like a medicalised solution."
She adds:
"We did a community consultation where we had 30 different groups and members of the VCSE (Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise) come along. We spoke to the end users, then we spoke to the people who are delivering services in the community and in the NHS. And from that we've developed this plan which is the Healing by Nature site."
After raising over £200,000 and with the help of a £55,000 grant, there are plans to add more to the site, with a hot and cold-water relaxation area. This will include wood burning hot tubs and cold-water plunge pools, as well as a sauna. There will be a fully powered yurt, enabling organisations to run training sessions via powerpoint.
Natural England were one of several organisations to attend the garden party.
Katie Mainprice is a senior officer of health and environment for Natural England.
She says:
"We're here to meet real people and find out of all the great things that are happening across Cornwall. And supporting people with their mental health by connecting them with nature. It's incredibly inspirational. I think a holistic approach to healthcare is really important.
"It's never a one size fits all. Nature will work really well for some and maybe not for others. Ensuring that it is an option and a tool that we can use to support people to find the things that work for them, and to be able to support themselves with their own mental health and wellbeing is really important."
Daphne Marston is the south west health and environment higher officer for Natural England.
She says:
"It's about making those connections. Sharing the message about nature connection and getting people out into nature for the health and wellbeing benefits. It's such a good place to learn. You have that natural green space and it just promotes wellbeing, and those discussions.
Sometimes just stopping in a green space to see what you can see, what you can smell, what you can hear and just what you can feel. It really does help. And again, the more people are connected with nature, the more likely we are to look after the environment, which is so important."