Ecotherapy at St Nicks Autumn 2017

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 01904 411821 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.

Pumpkins at St Nicks, grown by Get Gardening

Welcome to the St Nicks

Autumn 2017 Ecotherapy Update

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3 Introduction to Ecotherapy

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

Page

Apple trees at St Nicks Nature Reserve

Contents

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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

To join one of our Ecotherapy groups you can either fill in a referral form, which can be downloaded from our website at: www.stnicks.org.uk/ecotherapy

Or, you can contact Kathy Sturgess Email: ecotherapy@stnicks.org Tel: 01904411821

Kathy Sturgess, Ecotherapy Project Manager

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Ecotherapy Timetable

A week at a glance:

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

1pm – 2pm (Technique and skills) 2pm – 3pm (Nordic walking)

Wednesdays Crea ve Wri ng 10am – 12pm

Mindful Movement 1:30pm – 2.30pm

Thursdays Media & Photography 10am – 12pm

Get Gardening 1.30pm – 3pm

Fridays Plot to Plate* *Meet at Holgate Allotment

2pm – 4pm (earlier finish in winter)

All groups meet at St Nicks Environment Centre (unless otherwise stated) before heading out into the nature reserve or further afield.

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Ecotherapy on Mondays

Cycling

When: Mondays, 1pm-3pm Where: Meet at St Nicks Environment Centre 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.

When: Mondays, 10am-12pm Where: Meet at St Nicks Environment Centre What: Led by a qualified instructor, set off from the Environment Centre 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.

Cycling through St Nicks

Bearing Fruit

Scything, Bearing Fruit

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Ecotherapy on Tuesdays

When: Tuesdays, 10am-12pm Where: Meet at St Nicks Environment Centre 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 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

Common blue butterfly at St

Discover Nature

When: Tuesdays: 1pm – 2pm: Technique and Skills 2pm – 3pm: Nordic Walking session Where: Meet at St Nicks Environment Centre What: Led by a qualified instructor, set off from the Environment Centre and explore both the reserve and Hull Road Park. Instruction will be given and Nordic Walking poles are 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.

Nordic Walking, trynordic.co.uk

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Ecotherapy on Wednesdays

When: Wednesdays 1.30pm-2.30pm Where: Meet at St Nicks Environment Centre What: Held at the St Nicks Environment Centre, 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.

When: Wednesday 10am-12pm Where: Meet at St Nicks Environment Centre 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 Centre. 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

Creative Writing

Gathering inspiration, Creative Writing

Meditation at the Dragon Stones, Mindful Movement

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Ecotherapy on Thursdays

When: Thursdays, 1.30pm-3pm Where: Meet at St Nicks Environment Centre 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 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 Centre.

Media and Photography

When: Thursdays 10am-12pm Where: Meet at St Nicks Environment Centre 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.

Alder catkins, by Media and Photography

Get Gardening sowing wild flower

Get Gardening

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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.

Plot to Plate

Ecotherapy on Fridays

Woodland at St Nicks Nature Reserve, photo by Lewis Outing

Summer harvest of courgettes and beans

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Ecotherapy In The Community

Peppermill Planters

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 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

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 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.

Building a lasting feature

Enjoying the raised vegetable bed

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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.

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

Vegetation

Autumn sunlight at St Nicks, by Media and Photography  

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In Focus: People

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

Meet our new Project Assistant: Sarah

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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?

Meet a Participant: Georgina

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General Information

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!

Opening Times The Nature Reserve is open all year round

St Nicks Environment Centre is open Mondays-Fridays, 10am-4pm and during our on-site events.

Contact Us St Nicks St Nicks Environment Centre (formerly York Environment Centre) Rawdon Avenue York YO10 3ST Tel: 01904411821 Website: www.stnicks.org.uk Email: Ecotherapy - ecotherapy@stnicks.org.uk Recycling service queries –recycling@stnicks.org.uk Volunteering queries -volunteer@stnicks.org.uk

facebook.com/stnicks  @StNicksFields  Charity no. 1153739