by guest author Jess Tanner
Green Minds is Brecon & District Mind's new Ecotherapy project which launched this winter. As a fledgling project we are in the process of developing a range of nature-based initiatives that are rich in social and therapeutic value, and aim to reduce social isolation and increase the quality of life for our group members and the local community.
Our project's aim is to help our members to build a stronger connection and sense of belonging to the local environment by exploring the local landscape through mindfulness and nature-connection walks. The project will also help people to create new links within the local area through volunteering roles, and provide opportunities for our members to build self-confidence, self-reliance and new skills.
Our activities are currently taking place at Brecon Cathedral where our project is working towards the design and development of more wildlife friendly planting within the garden areas of the cathedral grounds. We have also started work within a walled garden in Brecon this month, preparing the polytunnel for the seed sowing ahead.
We also have lots of woodland mindfulness walks and craft activities coming up over the next few months. These include willow weaving workshops led by a professional basket maker as well as a bird box making session as part of February's national bird box making month.
We are now open to receive new referrals from within the community for those that feel being part of the Green Minds project will be of benefit to them. Please get in touch for more details.
When asked what mattered most to our members after the Green Minds' sessions their responses were:
“Working with other people and being able to see the end result. I feel less worried, being outside helps clear your mind.” - Sarah
“I felt uplifted when we took a step back and looked at the results of our graft. It's good to interact with others and be outside doing something good.” - Rich
As well as working for Brecon & District Mind as a Community Wellbeing Support Worker, Jess leads the new Green Minds Ecotherapy Project, delivering horticultural therapy and community gardening activities for adults.
Her background includes working within the creative arts therapies, outdoor education and life long learning. Jess undertook her horticultural training over a one year WRAGS placement (Women retraining as a gardener scheme) in the Black Mountains and also holds an Award in Social & Therapeutic Horticulture with Thrive.
Jess is passionate about facilitating opportunities that help people to access gardens and green spaces and build stronger relationships with the local area and surrounding landscapes.
Emma Charles - Co-project lead biography
Emma is a Nature Based Facilitator offering ecotherapy and social and therapeutic horticulture in and around the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains.
Her background is in social care provision, having worked in the third sector for over 10 years. Emma has recently joined the Green Minds Ecotherapy Project and her hope is to raise awareness of the importance of the natural world on our mental and physical wellbeing, and to bring people into a closer relationship with their natural selves whilst cultivating a deeper sense of appreciation for the beautiful environment they live in here in the Brecon Beacons.
This is quite interesting!
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