Simple Signposting to Better Health and Wellbeing
Derby
Self-care and National Support Services
National Support
Do you think you would benefit from some further support to spend more time in Nature and Greenspaces?
Nature and Mental Health
- Thriving With Nature | Mental Health Foundation Guide containing suggestions for seasonal activities to help people engage with nature, and personal stories.
- Walking with Nature: Notice three good things - Paths for All | Paths for All Connect with nature on your walks by noticing three good things in nature. Free Guide.
- Natural Environment- National Academy for Social Prescribing | NASP Helping People Connect with Nature for Better Health and Wellbeing
- Bring people closer to nature | The Wildlife Trusts Materials and resources available and offer a Wellbeing Through Nature course
Nature and Physical Activity
- Parkrun UK Free, weekly events around the country. Events are in parks and open spaces. Walk, run, jog, volunteer or spectate.
- Places to visit | Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (ywt.org.uk) Discover Nature reserves near you. Includes address/map, accessibility and difficulty levels.
- Home | National Trust Ideas for days out, parks, discover and learn about nature
Nature and Community
- Social Farms & Gardens | (farmgarden.org.uk) UK wide charity supporting communities to farm and garden.
- Ramblers Bringing people together to enjoy walking and outdoor pursuits. Includes Walking for Health and Wellbeing walks.
- Wildlife Actions - Quick Wins for Wildlife.pdf (ywt.org.uk) Things you can do at home/in your community to connect with nature.
Nature and Conservation
- The RSPB Wildlife Charity: Nature Reserves & Wildlife Conservation Find a place to visit with birds and wildlife.
- TCV | The Conservation Volunteers Connecting people and greenspaces on their doorsteps
Can you think of opportunities that you may have to connect with and spend time in nature? Suggestions include:
Outdoor:
- Walks in nature
- Bird watching
- Conservation volunteering
- Green gym
- Volunteering for local charities – nature based, animal-based
- Gardening, growing and horticulture activities
- Art and nature – creative activities
- Watching nature
- Visiting nature and local greenspaces
- Open water swimming
- Horse riding
- Cycling
Indoor:
- Decorate with plants and flowers. Use of window-sills, side-boards, and hanging plants from above can bring a welcome burst of green and colour indoors.
- Use natural textiles around the home to create a more natural feel.
- Grow herbs on window-sills. Most supermarkets sell a range of herbs or try growing from seed. Most herbs just need sunlight and moisture.
- Do a nature table. Decorate a focal point e.g. a crate or box with natural objects.
- Listen to nature sounds such as birdsong and sea waves. Use apps like Spotify or Alexa to listen to a mixture of sounds. RSPB have a ‘Birdsong’ radio app.
- Let natural light in and open windows.
- Watch nature documentaries and films.
- Use the colour green as much as you can. It is calming and soothing.
- Do seasonal displays e.g. leaves and conkers in the autumn and consider doing artwork with a nature theme.