Page 9 - Wildlife News August 2017

Room with a view
The first of these is the Nature Memories Café, set up for people

living with dementia and their loved ones with initial support from

Thatcham Town Council and the Alpkit Foundation. Nature offers

proven benefits for this group, including increased independence

and self-esteem through recovery of memory and attention.

Project participants meet once a week to connect with nature

through crafts. Evidence suggests that even a view out onto the A NatsuttuareknenMsienamgmsooertimetisennCgta.ft(éBoEpaCadKYrmtOiic’rMiepEtaLhInAe)t

natural world is enough to make people feel better, so we host Relaxed, safe
and happy
the café in a room with panoramic view across the lake.
Eight Bells members share
The Nature Memories Café has become a lifeline for the 20 or the impact the nature
therapy sessions have had
so people who attend. Participants tell us that the social interaction in such a beautiful setting, with on them.

others who truly understand what they’re “When I came for the first
session it was freezing cold
(BECKY O’MELIA) going through, is having an enormous and I have to be honest,
I was dreading being
impact on their mental wellbeing. outside for several hours.
But as the time went on I
Continuation of the project wouldn’t completely forgot about
the weather, plus it was
have been possible without the generous great fun to toast my toes
on an open fire! I wake up
donations of private individuals, including a every Wednesday and think
‘great, it’s nature today’.”
substantial gift made in memory of Doreen
Vickie
Cottee, and local organisations such as the
“Nature and wildlife have
Berkshire Carers Society, Thatcham Nursing always been very important
to me. It is great to be
Society, Greenham Trust and The Joe and able to enjoy both among
friends. I can leave all my
Rosa Frenkel Charitable Trust. It means the troubles behind and look
forward to a peaceful time
Coffee awnedllcbreaifntgs:tThhreouNgahtucroemMpeamnyoraineds Cnaaftéurper-otmheomteesdmcreanfttasl. project can continue for the next two years, in beautiful surroundings.
which will help us to reach even more people It also seems to have given
who could benefit. a couple of our quieter
members more confidence
Immersive experience as they have opened up.”

We also trialled a nature therapy group for members of Eight Bells for Mental Health, a local charity Rachel
supporting adults affected by mental health issues. The project saw 14 participants attend weekly
sessions over 12 weeks. The sessions were all about being immersed in nature. We cooked lunch on
an open fire, spent time discovering the wildlife on site and completed practical jobs.

The mental wellbeing of participants and their connection to nature were measured at the
start and end of the project. Everyone involved experienced a significant increase in their mental
wellbeing, while two-thirds of participants reported an increased affinity with nature.

Of course, connecting people with nature isn’t reserved for specific groups. Work has begun on a
project to create new areas of interpretation on site.

Discovering Nature Together, funded by Tesco Bags of Help, will encourage visitors to explore a
little bit further and discover a little bit more. All of the interpretation will be interactive and should
appeal to all ages. Look out for the first pieces, which will appear from September.

When I started work on these projects I never imagined the impact they would have on people’s
lives. I have been lucky enough to witness the weekly progress of participants’ wellbeing and I truly
believe that is down to time spent in nature with wonderful people.

esteBemeinwghiimleminecrrseeadsiinngparaffcitniictayl jobs outdoors builds self-
with nature. (BECKY O’MELIA)

Loving everyamnaintuutree!tAhebreaapmyisnegsspioarnt.ic(BipECaKnYtOe’MnjEoLIyAs) “It is so enjoyable to be
outside relaxing and
absorbing the sights, smells
and sounds of wildlife all
around you. It has been a
unique opportunity to get
to know my fellow members
so much better and share
experiences and problems as
we sit around the campfire.”

Keith

Wildlife news / August 2017 9