There are lots of Naturally Healthy initiatives taking place across Devon – see our opportunities page for more information. In order to share learning we have also listed a few projects below which have explored / are exploring how to improve Naturally Healthy opportunities for specific locations / audiences. Please let us know if we can add your project / learning to this list (email nature@devon.org.uk).
In order that link workers, social prescribing projects and other health and community partners are aware of Naturally Healthy initiatives we are encouraging partners to list their projects and activities on the Active Devon Activity Finder. This is a great way to promote your organisation and your activities and it is completely free. Information on how to upload to the site is available through an FAQs document and you can register your organisation on the A-Z Directory and your activities through the Activity Finder. Please remember to include ‘Naturally Healthy’ and other relevant keywords (e.g. environment and wildlife) to your description to enable the key word search to find them, and please tag your activities on the Naturally Healthy campaign – when prompted with the question: Is this activity being linked to a local or national campaign?
Connecting Actively with Nature
Led by Active Devon, our Naturally Healthy Working Group has been awarded £500,000 of National Lottery funding from Sport England. The five year Connecting Actively to Nature (CAN) programme aims to involve over 3000 older people in Devon and Torbay connect actively to nature. Further information is available on the Active Devon website.
Dartmoor National Park
‘Naturally Healthy’ project – A project aiming to get people active in Dartmoor National Park’s natural environment by promoting and providing opportunities to walk, swim, cycle and more. For more information contact orutter@dartmoor.gov.uk
Exmoor National Park
‘Moor to Enjoy’ project – This project worked to connect local groups with the natural environment of Exmoor National Park, to ultimately increase the health and wellbeing of their members. Read the project final report and for more information, email lmcquillan@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk
‘FUN’ Project – Exmoor National Park are now developing a new health and wellbeing programme to build on the ‘Moor to Enjoy’ Project which was completed in August 2018. The Exmoor FUN Project (Families United through Nature) focuses on engaging with vulnerable families and young people to encourage access to natural green space with the aim of enhancing physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing.
The WAVE Project
The WAVE project brings people together through surfing. Their evidence-based surf therapy programme is proven to help young people feel less anxious and more positive. They run beach school projects to help children feel more engaged in education. The Wave Project also runs Wave Rangers a project which engages young people between the ages of 10-20 to volunteer in projects that support the environment and their mental health.
- Surf therapy: the long-term impact (2018) – An independent evaluation of the impact of The Wave Project on vulnerable young people 2013-2017
- The Wave Project (2015) – An independent evaluation of The Wave Project’s impact on vulnerable young people over 3 Years from 2013-2015n
Resilient Young Minds
The National Trust and Woodland Trust are working with Dr Lucy Loveday to deliver the Resilient Young Minds programme. A 5-week programme for 18 to 35 year olds which takes place in Fingle Woods and includes sessions on the themes of: CONNECT; EXPLORE; NOTICE & RELAX; REFLECT; and COMMUNITY to improve wellbeing and resilience whilst experiencing nature.
The next programme starts on 8 June 2021. If you know of someone within the North Dartmoor area that would benefit please encourage them to speak to their GP or link worker.