Nature Connection: course for adults living with chronic health conditions

This free 6 week time in nature course in Shipston-on-Stour is for adults from South Warwickshire living with any chroinc health condition.

Please read on to find out which areas are included within South Warwickshire.

The dates for the sessions are as follows:

Fridays, September 19th and 26th and October 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th

All sessions are for 2 hours, from 11am - 1pm

What can I expect?

The course, based on the 5 Ways to Wellbeing, is a slow and gentle introduction to how spending time in nature can help boost our sense of wellbeing.

You can expect to:

• Spend time exploring and learning more about local wildlife
• Have a go at some wildlife photography for wellbeing using just your smart/camera phone
• Try your hand at some simple nature crafts
• Find new ways to help nature that don't use too much energy
• Look at nature in a new way, that helps us slow down and take time for us

Session Structure

The structure of each session is:

• Arrival, cuppa and settle in
• Passive Element: the quiet half - a short talk about something nature related, including an intro to the 5 Ways to Wellbeing in nature, Hedgehogs and Pattern in Nature
• Break which could be a choice between or combo of: complete quiet rest, a social break, games and space to watch some of the online nature webcams from across the country
• Mindfulness Activity - a short calming and grounding activity that can be repeated at home
• Interactive Element: the practical half - this will be a more physical task, including making bird feeders and wildflower seed balls, learning to identify nature including wildflowers out in the garden and some nature photography using phones.

The first session will include time for completing some paperwork.

Pacing and Energy Use

To aid with pacing, sessions are designed to break up and share out the cognitive and physical activity.

It is ok to choose to attend the full session, just the first half enabling you to sit, listen and absorb, or the second, more practical half.

It is ok for your needs to change through the course, deciding how you feel on the day.

Where is the course being held?

The course will be based in The Community Wellbeing Hub on the ground floor of the Ellen Badger Hospital.

There are accessible toilets at the venue.

We will try to spend as much time outside as the weather allows but we will not move far from the building.

Who is running it?

The course is being run by Health and Wellbeing Officer, Rosie Charter.

Rosie loves spending time in nature by sitting out in her garden, gardening for nature, watching birds and going for walks when she can. Her 'happy places' are by the sea, in the mountains and in her garden.

Rosie has first hand experience of living with a chronic health condition so meets you with empathy and understanding.

If you have any quetsions about the course you can contact Rosie by email at rosie.charter@wkwt.org.uk.

What do I need to know before I sign up?

You don't need to have any nature knowledge at all - this is for anyone from beginners to nature pros. We are focusing on exploring and connecting with nature.

Once you sign up on Eventbrite today you will be contacted by Rosie Charter with a further enrolment form to find out more about you and any support needs you may have.

Where can I park?

There is a free car park at the Ellen Badger

What do we mean by South Warwickshire?

This course is for adults living in South Warwickshire.

That includes the towns and villages of;

Alcester, Barford, Bidford on Avon, Bishops Tachbrook, Bubbenhall, Fenny Compton, Hatton Park, Henley in Arden, Hunningham, Kenilworth, Leamington, Long Compton, Long Itchington, Lower Quinton, Norton Lindsay, Priors Marston, Shipston-on-Stour, Stoneleigh, Stratford on Avon, Tysoe, Warwick, Wootton Wawen, and the smaller conurbations between the larger villages and towns.

Photo credit: Vicky Page