The Nature Connectors
Harnessing nature to make lives better
Welcome to our new programme
Run by Alison and Georgia, we aim to bring greater nature connection and wellbeing to healthcare staff and communities in the Howardian Hills, North Yorkshire.
After the success of our last Green Social Prescribing project - which was managed by Adventures for the Soul in collaboration with Ampleforth Abbey - we’ve been able to secure further funding to provide a new programme of support for those in need.
Now managed under a new entity - The Nature Connectors - we are offering forest school for adults and ‘mindfulness in nature’ sessions, while teaching the wellbeing benefits of being outdoors.
Running until February 2025, the new programme includes:
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Seven ‘wellbeing in the outdoors’ ‘drop-in’ sessions for healthcare staff
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Three twelve-week nature connection courses for patients referred from healthcare staff
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Nineteen community ‘drop-in’ sessions (open to all)
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Further support for nature connection course participants through signposting information and community 'drop ins'
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A 'light-touch' nature wellbeing toolkit centred around accessing local green spaces in the Howardian Hills
Sessions are based at the stunning Ampleforth Abbey Orchards in North Yorkshire.
Why connect with nature?
There is now a vast quantity of high-quality research showing that connecting people to nature:
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Improves mental wellbeing, vitality and happiness.
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Provides greater meaning, satisfaction and purpose in life.
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Fosters more pro-environmental and conservation behaviours.
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Improves overall health through e.g. stress reduction, improved sleep and increased exercise.
Our twelve-week courses draws on these evidence-based studies, while using the Five Ways to Wellbeing as a framework.
Combined, this helps make people healthier and happier, leading more positive lives with less reliance on NHS services.
Testimonials
About us
Alison Goodwin
Passionate about the natural world and the outdoors, Alison holds a BSc degree in Environmental Management and PGCert in Conservation & Sustainable Development.
She is a Contemplative & Mindful Walks Leader; Forest Bathing, Yoga and Mindfulness Instructor; a Wellness Coach and former Zen Buddhist of many years - as well as being a star-gazing and nature connection enthusiast.
Since 2002, she's run wellness sessions & nature experiences for universities, NGOs, charities and outdoor experience companies. She's taken people to some of the most stunning areas of the UK on yoga, mindfulness and contemplative walking holidays since 2009.
She set up Adventures for the Soul - a visitor facing business - in 2019 before branching out to community-based nature-connection sessions in 2021.
Georgia Davies
Georgia started teaching Science and Ecology back in the 90's after completing an Ecology degree from York University and a Masters In Natural Resource Management at Leicester.
Her teaching career took her overseas and she was the Head of Sixth Form at a leading British School in Cairo. After a career break, she retrained as a Forest School Leader and, lately was the Nature Connections and Ecology Lead at Ampleforth Abbey Estate.
Georgia believes wholeheartedly in the many benefits to be brought by forming deep and lasting connections with nature, both for the individual concerned and for nature itself, having witnessed the effects over the course of her career. This new project is a culmination of 30 years of evidence and experience.
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