Ecotherapy at St Nicks. Contents. Welcome to the St Nicks Autumn 2017 Ecotherapy Update. 3 Introduction to Ecotherapy

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1 Ecotherapy at St Nicks Autumn 2017 Page Contents 3 Introduction to Ecotherapy Pumpkins at St Nicks, grown by Get Gardening Welcome to the St Nicks Autumn 2017 Ecotherapy Update 4 Ecotherapy Timetable: A week at a glance 5 Ecotherapy Mondays 6 Ecotherapy Tuesdays 7 Ecotherapy Wednesdays 8 Ecotherapy Thursdays 9 Ecotherapy Fridays 10 Ecotherapy in the Community 11 In Focus: Featured Work 12 In Focus: People 16 General Information Autumn is a beautiful time at St Nicks: fruits are ready for harvesting and leaves are starting to turn giving us a fiery display of colour. Nature may be winding down for winter but our Ecotherapy groups are in full flow with groups on every day of the week. If you re interested and would like to make a referral, contact Kathy Sturgess on or ecotherapy@stnicks.org.uk. This booklet should give you a bit of an update on what we ve got going on, along with some ideas on new ways to connect with nature. We hope you find this useful and look forward to welcoming you to St Nicks in the near future. Apple trees at St Nicks Nature Reserve 2

2 Introduction to Ecotherapy What is Ecotherapy? Ecotherapy promotes good mental and physical wellbeing through outdoor activity in the natural environment. At St Nicks, Ecotherapy is offered through group activities as described on the following pages. Our programme works in the following way: Group activities are led by trained session workers All participants receive one to one mentor support alongside group engagement Activities occur both on and off site and are free to participants Groups are timetabled around the lunch hour encouraging increased social opportunities All activities are organised around getting involved with nature as the main focus Groups are time limited with opportunities to stay involved longer term through a peer support model How To Get Involved In Ecotherapy at St Nicks Kathy Sturgess, Ecotherapy Project Manager To join one of our Ecotherapy groups you can either fill in a referral form, which can be downloaded from our website at: Ecotherapy Timetable A week at a glance: All groups meet at St Nicks Environment (unless otherwise stated) before heading out into the nature reserve or further afield. Day Ac vity Time Mondays Get Cycling 10am 12pm Bearing Fruit 1pm 3pm Tuesdays Discover Nature 10am 12pm Nordic Walking* *Par cipants can a end either session Wednesdays Crea ve Wri ng 10am 12pm Mindful Movement 1pm 2pm (Technique and skills) 2pm 3pm (Nordic walking) 1:30pm 2.30pm Thursdays Media & Photography 10am 12pm Fridays Get Gardening Plot to Plate* *Meet at Holgate Allotment 1.30pm 3pm 2pm 4pm (earlier finish in winter) Or, you can contact Kathy Sturgess ecotherapy@stnicks.org Tel:

3 Ecotherapy on Mondays Ecotherapy on Tuesdays Cycling Cycling through St Nicks Bearing Fruit Scything, Bearing Fruit When: Mondays, 10am-12pm What: Led by a qualified instructor, set off from the Environment and explore the various cycle paths in and around York. Bring your own bicycle and helmet, or borrow them from us free of charge! This activity is suitable for all who are interested in cycling, from regular cyclists to those who haven t ridden a bike for some time. This Green Exercise group has been made possible through partnership with York Mind and funding from City of York Council. When: Mondays, 1pm-3pm What: Be part of the development of a community orchard at St Nicks Nature Reserve; managing existing wildlife habitats and creating new ones. Help us look after our established fruit trees, soft fruit sites and newly planted Yorkshire heritage apple trees. Learn conservation skills such as scything, pruning and creating wildlife habitats. 5 Discover Nature When: Tuesdays, 10am-12pm Where: Meet at St Nicks Environment What: Join a safe and nurturing environment in which you can learn more about the natural world. Sessions are seasonally themed as each week focuses on a different species or habitat with the opportunity to participate in wildlife-based activities, including nature walks, animal surveys, and art Common blue butterfly at St work creation in addition to field trips and talks from local experts - there is always something new to learn with our Discover Nature group. Nordic Walking When: Tuesdays: 1pm 2pm: Technique and Skills 2pm 3pm: Nordic Walking session Where: Meet at St Nicks Environment What: Led by a qualified instructor, set off from the Environment and explore both the reserve and Hull Road Park. Instruction will be given and Nordic Walking poles are Nordic Walking, trynordic.co.uk provided. Nordic Walking is suitable for all ages and fitness levels. This Green Exercise group has been made possible through partnership with York Mind and funding from City of York Council. Please book ahead to complete your Nordic Walking training induction. 6

4 Ecotherapy on Wednesdays Creative Writing Gathering inspiration, Creative Writing When: Wednesday 10am-12pm What: The Creative Writing course is run in partnership with York St John University, Converge and the Discovery Hub and takes place at St Nicks Environment. Creative writing is used to explore themes in nature and to make new discoveries through observations of the reserve and the changing seasons. Each session starts with a short walk around the reserve followed by an introduction of a theme for the mornings writing. The courses are an exciting way to develop writing styles and skills whilst gaining the benefits of interacting in a green space. Participants are encouraged to keep their own nature journals as part of the course. Mindful Movement Meditation at the Dragon Stones, Mindful Movement When: Wednesdays 1.30pm-2.30pm What: Held at the St Nicks Environment, Mindful Movement is a class designed to encourage balance and well being; aligning breath and movement, using a range of tools and materials inspired by the natural environment with movement inspired by Tai Chi. 7 Ecotherapy on Thursdays Media and Photography Alder catkins, by Media and Photography When: Thursdays 10am-12pm What: The film group explores stories and feelings inspired by nature through images, sounds, colours, and music. Cameras will be used to observe nature and capture significant images and sounds which will be combined in a short film using creative storytelling. No experience of filming or photography is required everyone is welcome to join this group and equipment is available to use. We will focus on exploring ideas, film poetry, and filming of nature, so there will be no need to appear on camera unless you want to. Get Gardening When: Thursdays, 1.30pm-3pm What: The Gardening group is run in partnership with York St John University, Converge and the Discovery Hub. People of all abilities are welcome. Learn how to garden creatively in different settings Get Gardening sowing wild flower using a variety of means including the use of a polytunnel, container planting and making the most of smaller spaces. Growing activities will include introducing natural pest control, feeding, plant care, re-potting, vegetable growing, herb gardening, seed collecting and innovative irrigation. This group takes place within the gardening space at St Nicks Environment. 8

5 Plot to Plate Ecotherapy on Fridays Ecotherapy In The Community Peppermill Planters Summer harvest of courgettes and beans When: Fridays, 2pm-4pm (earlier finish as the nights draw in) Where: Meet at Holgate Allotment What: Help to manage our allotment and learn the principles of organic gardening and the benefits of eating seasonally. The site has raised beds, fruit trees, a variety of vegetables and a wildflower area. This group runs at the Holgate Allotment Site and takes place all year around. Peppermill Planters is a closed gardening group based at TEWV NHS Peppermill Court, the York based inpatient mental health unit. We run two groups every Wednesday afternoon. One on Minster Ward, the male unit, and the other gardening group on Ebor, the female unit. Both groups started in April of this year and already the gardens are looking Building a lasting feature fantastic! Participants across both wards have started growing fruits and vegetables, planted herbs and wildflowers to encourage wildlife. In September we spent a fantastic day building a lasting feature on both wards: a seasonal vegetable bed in the Minster Ward garden, and on Ebor planting apple trees and flowering currant - sure to attract plenty of wildlife such as bees and butterflies in the spring. Guardians of the Garden Woodland at St Nicks Nature Reserve, photo by Lewis Outing 9 Guardians of the Garden is another closed gardening group based at 22 The Avenue (City of York Council). Within this setting, the Avenue offer their residents longer term accommodation and support for adults in recovery from mental ill health. We have regular Resident Meetings Enjoying the raised vegetable bed where the members of this group really shape the work that is being done in their garden space. In September they saw one of their ideas turned into reality as all the residents got involved building a lasting feature: a raised herb and vegetable bed, with help from Edible York. This will not only encourage wildlife to the garden but will also provide the residents with tasty produce and act as a bench to sit on for socialising. 10

6 In Focus: Featured Work The natural world can often be a source of inspiration as one of our Get Gardening participants showed with this beautiful poem. Autumn sunlight at St Nicks, by Media and Photography Vegetation As I grow old I start to vegetate, Become a garden thick with vegetation; I ve gone to seed now, having flowered of late; Just being is my present occupation. And yesterday I potted cowslip seeds; The sun was blazing and my mind was calm; A simple humble task is all one needs, To just sit still and hold life in one s palm. So many years I built the world s machine I ve gained a perspex trophy for my toil But now I roam through spaces that are green, And plant these tiny living things in soil. And peace and joy are now once more the soul s; The hidden meaning of it all I see, That was obscured by clouds of aims and goals: The purpose of existence is to be. By Brinley Price In Focus: People Meet our new Project Assistant: Sarah How long have you been involved with St Nicks? I started working at St Nicks in August as the new Project Assistant, helping out in the office and also supporting Kathy Sturgess with the Ecotherapy Project. What is your interest in Ecotherapy? I really believe that being outside connecting to nature can have a positive impact on people s health and wellbeing. The natural world is full of wonders and I have always found that spending time outdoors whether that is going for a walk, watching wildlife or doing some gardening makes me feel better so I was very excited to join the Ecotherapy project at St Nicks to help those suffering with mental ill health experience the same benefits. What advice would you give to people wanting to get involved? Come along and give it a go! It may seem daunting at first but the team at St Nicks are very supportive, encouraging and friendly. There is such a variety of groups to get involved with - from Green Exercise groups like Mindful Movement or the more active cycling and walking groups, to groups involved in gardening, wildlife conservation and even using nature as inspiration for art there is something for everyone. What s your favourite thing about the project? I love the sense of community within the different groups and have really enjoyed getting to know all the participants and seeing how they benefit from the project. Nature is full of surprises, you never know what you might see one day we were scything on the reserve and came across a bumblebee nest! How would you describe the Ecotherapy Project in three words? Supportive, welcoming, interesting 11 12

7 Meet a Participant: Georgina In Focus: People How did you find out about St Nicks? I grew up near here and now live round the corner so St Nicks has always been nearby. I remember when it used to be an industrial site - it is much nicer now! What groups are you a member of? I started coming to Get Gardening a couple of months ago and am really enjoying it. What have you enjoyed doing with the gardening group so far? We have been sowing wild flower seeds, potting seedlings and weeding with the hoe although it can be hard work and you get mucky sometimes I really like being with other people, making friends and getting some fresh air. What advice would you give others wanting to get involved? Just come along and try it out, you don t need to be an expert at gardening. It s nice to have the chance to meet people. What s your favourite bit about coming down here? Being outside makes me feel better. I live in a flat with no garden so I like coming here because it s a nice, quiet, peaceful place. I m also quite lonely so I enjoy the social side to it. What s your favourite bit of getting involved with nature? I enjoy seeing the birds and flowers and doing some gardening, it makes me smile. How would you describe St Nicks in three words? 13 14

8 General Information Contact Us St Nicks St Nicks Environment (formerly York Environment ) Rawdon Avenue York YO10 3ST Tel: Website: Ecotherapy - ecotherapy@stnicks.org.uk Recycling service queries recycling@stnicks.org.uk Volunteering queries -volunteer@stnicks.org.uk Opening Times The Nature Reserve is open all year round St Nicks Environment is open Mondays-Fridays, 10am-4pm and during our on-site events. Visitor s Code Dog walkers are welcome but please keep your dog under control and clean up after your friend. Camping, fires or the use of motor vehicles and motorbikes are not permitted Please help to look after the nature reserve by taking your litter home. We hope you enjoy your visit and come back soon! Charity no