Garden party in Liskeard showcases nature-based mental health support

A garden party at Trevillis House in Liskeard brought together organisations from across the south west to learn more about nature-based wellbeing and the growing role outdoor environments can play in mental health support.

Exploring Nature-Based Care

The event showcased the work of the Healing by Nature project, one of several efforts set up by the Trust to encourage more nature-focused approaches in mental health. Earlier this year, mental health clinicians took part in a training pilot to explore these methods, which link directly to the Trust’s clinical strategy. One of its key aims is to deliver half of its clinical care outdoors or in non-traditional spaces.

Organisations attending the garden party included Natural England, the Eden Project, Newquay Orchards and Cornwall Council.

Activities on the day ranged from an ice bath demonstration and apple pressing to a barbecue.

“We exist in these spaces”

📷Peta Temple

Peta Temple, an advanced lived experience lead for the Trust who runs the peer support team, explained how the project focuses on people’s strengths and passions.

Peta said:
“We find things that people are skilled at and passionate about and we really try and capitalise on all of that.

“We first started our service we did an evaluation. What we learned for our particular patient group was they were either too unwell, so too high risk and engaged in too high-risk behaviours to receive a help helping program or were not unwell enough

“You do not need a diagnosis, you do not need to be under secondary care, you do not need a referral. We exist in these spaces, and we want people to come along and join us. We do it outside, so it does not look like a medicalised solution.”

She added:
“We did a community consultation where we had 30 different groups and members of the VCSE come along. We spoke to the end users, then we spoke to the people who are delivering services in the community and in the NHS. And from that we’ve developed this plan which is the Healing by Nature site.”

After raising more than £200,000, and with the help of a £55,000 grant, the project plans to expand the site further. Upcoming additions include a hot and cold-water relaxation area with wood burning hot tubs, cold-water plunge pools and a sauna. A fully powered yurt will also be installed so organisations can run training sessions via PowerPoint.

Natural England Praises the Approach

📷Katie Mainprice (left) and Daphne Marston, from Natural England.

Natural England was among the groups attending the garden party.

Katie Mainprice, a senior officer of health and environment for Natural England, said:
“We’re here to meet real people and find out of all the great things that are happening across Cornwall. And supporting people with their mental health by connecting them with nature. It’s incredibly inspirational. I think a holistic approach to healthcare is really important.

“It’s never a one size fits all. Nature will work really well for some and maybe not for others. Ensuring that it is an option and a tool that we can use to support people to find the things that work for them, and to be able to support themselves with their own mental health and wellbeing is really important.”

Daphne Marston, the south west health and environment higher officer for Natural England, said:
“It’s about making those connections. Sharing the message about nature connection and getting people out into nature for the health and wellbeing benefits. It’s such a good place to learn. You have that natural green space and it just promotes wellbeing, and those discussions.

“Sometimes just stopping in a green space to see what you can see, what you can smell, what you can hear and just what you can feel. It really does help. And again, the more people are connected with nature, the more likely we are to look after the environment, which is so important.”