© Hannah Zervas, Created for Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, Wild Skills Wild Spaces project
What is Wild Skills Wild Spaces?
Wild Skills Wild Spaces is a pioneering and award-winning project that boosts people’s mental and physical wellbeing by reconnecting them with nature.
A partnership between Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, Powys Teaching Health Board and Cardiff Metropolitan University, this exciting ecotherapy programme enables participants to learn new skills, build confidence and meet other like-minded individuals through nature-based outdoor activities, such as wildlife walks, hands-on conservation work, bushcraft and produce-growing.
What's more, the project empowers people to make meaningful changes for nature and the environment in their local community. So successful has it been, Wild Skills Wild Spaces received a sought-after NHS Forest 2021 Award for Engaging People with Nature.
Photographer: Ross Gallier
Wild Skills Wild Spaces (WSWS)
About our sessions
The weekly ecotherapy programme comprises practical, hands-on sessions delivered by a friendly and fully trained team. These sessions take place at uplifting, wildlife rich sites across Powys, including several of Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves, and include a wide variety of activities to appeal to all.
Who’s it for?
Wild Skills Wild Spaces is designed for young people and adults living in Powys who are struggling with their mental health, whether that’s depression, anxiety, social isolation or low self-esteem. The free, inclusive sessions are ideal for those who wouldn’t usually engage in outdoor activities and/or prescribed therapeutic interventions, and they allow individuals to go at their own pace.
Participation is currently through referral by primary and secondary healthcare providers, such as GPs, nurses, mental health services and intervention services for adults and young people. Alternatively, you can also refer yourself by completing a self-referral form below.
"It's really helped with my mental health and social anxiety..."Ponthafren Association
How does it work?
The Wildlife Trusts published a report with the University of Essex in 2017 about the effects of volunteering in nature on people’s mental health. The results were amazing, with 95% of participants with low wellbeing at the start reporting an improvement in 6 weeks, which increased even more over the next 6 weeks.
Wild Skills Wild Spaces was devised by MWT Head of Health and Wellbeing Carla Kenyon. She was inspired by Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s groundbreaking 'Myplace' project, which used this relationship between wildlife and wellness to come up with Five Ways to Wellbeing: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Learn and Give. These core principles are at the heart of the Wild Skills Wild Spaces programme.
Frances Louise, Project Manager
A keen walker, forager and camp-fire cook with tons of experience working with children and adults, Project Manager Fran can be found getting stuck into practical ecotherapy sessions with Wild Skills Wild Spaces participants or working behind the scenes.
Nik Cain, Community Reserves Officer
Nik has trained in environmental conservation and has experience in managing a variety of habitats, as well as creating new woodlands in the south of England. He joins the Wild Skills Wild Spaces team to help participants enjoy practical conservation on our nature reserves and learn more about our local wildlife.
Mark Harding, Youth Engagement Officer
Former playworker and bushcraft camp organiser, Mark’s background makes him the ideal Youth Engagement Officer. His passions for all things outdoorsy make him great at helping young people and adults connect with the natural world through being active, learning new skills and having fun.
Jo Walker, Community Officer
If she’s not at the top of a hill enjoying some soggy sandwiches, you’ll find Trainee Community Officer Jo helping out the rest of the Wild Skills Wild Spaces team at a suitably inspiring location. Her experience working with people and her love for green spaces means she’s always full of enthusiasm.
Joanna Blyden, Admin & Communications Officer
I act as the eyes and ears of the Wild Skills Wild Spaces project, working with referral partners and signposting interested parties to our ecotherapy sessions. I’m also lucky enough to head up our communications, helping coordinate attendance of current participants and champion our achievements on social media. When I get time, I support the team with delivery on the ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old do I have to be to register for one of MWTs eco-therapy programmes?
Our programmes are suitable for any person 11years or over. We run different groups throughout the week. Once a referral has been made, we will confirm what sessions are available, depending on age / education status / availability.
Note: Our youth groups are run separately to our adult eco-therapy sessions.
Where do the sessions take place and how often do they run?
Currently, our sessions are held on the nature reserves and green spaces around Welshpool and Newtown.
For example, Severn Farm Pond, Llyn Coed Y Dinas and the Cultivate site. Most of the youth sessions are run at Severn Farm Pond, for the adult sessions it is your choice whether you would like to join the Welshpool or Newtown group.
The sessions run on a weekly basis.
What activities can I expect to participate in?
The team aim to tailor activities to the needs of the participants in the session. We recognise that each individual will have different expectations and interests. Some people may participate with green wood working skills, while some may prefer to engage with gardening. We lead group nature walks, nature based craft activities, campfire cooking, wildlife Identification sessions, bird box building, maintain the upkeep of the site and much more.
If there are any outdoor activities that you think would benefit nature and your wellbeing, we are a friendly bunch and open to suggestions. Feel free to contact joanna@montwt.co.uk to discuss. Alternatively, you can have a chat with the Project Officers who run the sessions.
How long are the sessions and do we get a break and refreshments?
The sessions are approximately 2- 2.5 hours.
There will be hot drinks on offer, you can chose to have a break whenever you wish.
All activities are optional, you will never be forced to take part in something you do not wish to do.
Do you offer support with transport?
Unfortunately, we cannot offer transport to WSWS sessions.
You need access to your own transport to and from sessions.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Most of the time, whatever the weather, our sessions will go ahead. Please prepare yourself with appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear. Most of our sites do have shelter for those days with bad weather conditions.
Dress accordingly to the weather and just as important, remember to bring your sun hat and sun cream for those sunny days.
What happens once a referral has been made?
Once we have received your referral form, you will receive an email / text message re what sessions are available.
Joanna, our Project Communications Officer will be in contact, who will confirm the next steps.
What sort of activities can you expect?
Wild Skills Wild Spaces participants can expect a range of different sorts of outdoor activities, linked to the Five Ways to Wellbeing:
Wildlife walks
Walking is an excellent way to keep physically fit and boost one’s mental wellbeing. It provides the opportunity to spend time in nature, to reflect, to connect with the wild world around us and to strike up new friendships. Our walks might be to look for plants or wildlife, to forage for ingredients to cook on the campfire or to practise mindfulness (being in the moment).
Bushcraft
Learning new skills, trying new things and sharing experiences are all fantastic ways to improve your wellbeing. Bushcraft activities might include green woodworking, cooking just-picked produce over a campfire and making homes for nature.
Gardening projects
Gardening can benefit wildlife and communities, as well as offering the chance to make discoveries and unwind in the great outdoors. Activities can include planting seeds, tending vegetable patches and cooking freshly-picked produce over a camp fire.
Practical conservation
Enabling people to keep active, learn useful skills and make meaningful changes for wild spaces and wildlife, practical conservation helps people feel valued and benefits the wider community. Activities could include scrub clearance, boardwalk maintenance and dead hedging.
Mindful environments
Taking time to get away from the stresses of modern life and technology and just be in the moment can do wonders for mental wellbeing. Activities might include some mindful sketching outside, or merely stopping for a while to take notice of our surroundings.
The Wild Skills Wild Spaces (WSWS) project works in partnership with Cardiff Metropolitan University (CMU).
CMU are responsible for monitoring and evaluating the health benefits of the WSWS programme.
These evaluations are developed by the team from CAWR at CMU.