When considering employee wellbeing, the employer would be well advised to consider the benefits of connection with the natural world. The Lancashire Wildlife Trust has developed ‘Wild Wellbeing Days’ at its flagship Brockholes Nature Reserve. The days have been designed to ensure employees gain the mental and physical benefits of connecting with nature. They have been created in partnership with Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust and run by the specialist ‘MyPlace’ team.
‘MyPlace’ is a pioneering partnership project with Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust. Wild Wellbeing days are designed specifically to improve the mental health of all participants using a range of ecotherapy techniques following five key themes:
- Practical Conservation Work
- Mindful Walks
- Bushcraft
- Mindful Environments
- Growing Projects
The wildlife trusts produced a study with Essex University which found the impact of volunteering in nature had an extremely positive impact with more than two-thirds (69%) of all participants saying their mental wellbeing had improved after just six weeks.
Participants also reported significantly enhanced feelings of positivity, increased general health and pro-environmental behaviour, higher levels of physical activity and more contact with greenspace.
Such positive feedback should surely stimulate the employer to consider the benefits of such activity on staff wellbeing, engagement and ultimately productivity.
The Mental Health Charity ‘Mind’ has advice on its website which positively indicates the benefits of engagement with the natural world upon mental wellbeing. It lists some of the benefits as:-
- improve your mood
- reduce feelings of stress or anger
- help you take time out and feel more relaxed
- improve your physical health
- improve your confidence and self-esteem
- help you be more active
- help you make new connections
- provide peer support.
The World Wildlife Fund partnered with the Mental Health Foundation to produce some tips to help us get through the pandemic, centred upon the benefits of nature.
‘’Taking quiet time to reflect on your natural surrounds can be really positive for mental health and wellbeing. Some of you may have even heard of the Japanese phenomenon, Forest Bathing. This is about spending time in a forest engaging all your senses, which can help to ease negative feelings and boost positive ones.
“If you’re not sure how to practice ‘mindfulness’, just take your time to be aware of how you’re feeling, your surroundings, what you can hear, smell, touch and see. Apart from what you’re doing right at that moment, try to let other thoughts drift away by focusing on your senses.’’
It is clear that connecting with the natural world can have fantastic benefits to the wellbeing of employees and just a quick search will reveal opportunities in your locality.
