People living in West Berkshire and South Oxfordshire are to be helped by Thrive to feel better during the winter months by the benefits of a new, free voluntary group!
With the evenings drawing in, believe it or not there is never a better time to get involved. One of the best ways of improving mental and physical health is to get outside, get active and be part of an enthusiastic group.
Thrive helps those touched by disability to transform their lives using gardening. A group will be starting on 11 January, 2012, working every Wednesday morning for six months in the Estate woodlands at Basildon Park, helping to do a range of conservation tasks.
Simon Chapman from Thrive’s National Office near Reading explains more. "We want conservation tasks to help people who have experienced any type of mental ill health"
"We have seen first-hand how gardening and conservation work can help people. The benefits of a sustained and active interest in conservation include better physical health, learning how to strengthen muscles and improve mobility; boost mental health through a sense of purpose and achievement; connection with others, reducing feelings of isolation or exclusion; learning new skills and the sense of feeling better for being outside, in touch with nature and in the great outdoors.
"This is a new and exciting project and we are delighted to be working with The National Trust locally. We are looking to help people who have had any experience of mental ill health. This may be someone who is feeling a bit low or someone feeling isolated who would like to get out, experience nature and feel better.
"No experience or skills are required, just a desire to build a healthier lifestyle and feel better generally. Participants should then increase their confidence and self esteem as well as learning more about woodland conservation.
"The project is called Growing 4 Life. Funded by Ecominds (using Big Lottery grants) and is free to attend.
This new activity follows on from Thrive’s similar activity earlier this year with The National Trust in their woodlands at The Vyne, near Basingstoke.
For information on how to join this group, contact Simon Chapman or Carl Harney at Thrive on 0118 988 5688
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For more information, pictures or to arrange interviews, please contact
Alyson Chorley on 0118 988 5688 or e-mail alyson.chorley@thrive.org.uk