This World Mental Health Day (10 October) it’s good to remember the benefits that connecting with nature has on our mental health and wellbeing. 

We can support our mental health through the five ways to wellbeing: connecting with people; being active; learning; taking notice / being mindful and giving. All of which can be done while connecting to nature for added benefits.

Personally, I know that walking, being in a natural space or stopping to take notice of life around me makes me feel good and can help reduce the anxieties and stresses I’m feeling. At the start of the first Covid-19 lockdown I decided to prioritize giving myself a daily dose of nature, to really take notice of nature, and add a photo(s) or video to Facebook to give me something to focus on and ground me in those uncertain times. And I loved it so much and felt so many benefits that I’ve not stopped since! 1300 plus days later and I’m still posting pictures and videos daily and learning about the natural world around me and being in the present.

There is increasing evidence of nature’s value to our wellbeing. The Wildlife Trusts has recently published a study that demonstrates that nature-based wellbeing activities provides costs savings to the NHS of £635 million pounds nationally.

Sadly, we know that there are health inequalities within Dorset and not everyone has equal access to greenspaces and natural environments. Dorset Wildlife Trust and partners such as the Dorset Local Nature Partnership (which is hosted by Dorset Wildlife Trust) are working together to embed nature-based wellbeing opportunities into the health system, to offer green social prescribing opportunities, work to improve access to nature and promote the benefit of engaging with nature to support both physical and mental health.

A collaboration called Health and Nature Dorset (or HAND), led by Dorset LNP, has been set up to strengthen joint working on nature-based wellbeing. The collaboration includes a wide range of organisations such as NHS Dorset, Public Health Dorset, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Active Dorset, National Trust, Dorset Council and BCP Council.  

In the last year HAND ran a staff wellbeing programme for the Integrated Care System (those working in NHS Trusts, social care, primary care, and the unitary councils) called Give Nature a Go. This enabled staff to take a few hours out of there day to focus on nature. Activities were run by a range of HAND members through a range of sessions including Forest Bathing, yoga, mindfulness and wellbeing walks (including sessions run at Kingcombe Meadows, Wild Woodbury and Brownsea Island). 

We thank our amazing funders, including Southern Co-op, National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Lottery Community Fund and Natural England, for supporting this fantastic work.

Communities can also work together to create wilder, green places on their doorsteps, helping nature to thrive. Our Nextdoor Nature programme helps to support communities to lead their own events and activities to help wildlife thrive within their local area – and is a fantastic way for local residents to connect with both nature and people which is great for our mental wellbeing.

Dorset Wildlife Trust has a range of opportunities to help people connect with nature and other people. From self-led walks with friends and family on our nature reserves, to volunteer conservation work parties across the county, or through attending our fantastic range courses and workshops and wildlife-themed events. You can also take part in the Big Wild Walk from 16-29 October - The Wildlife Trusts' annual fundraising challenge.

Become a member and connect with nature today