People of all ages say they get a great deal out of being outdoors. Spending time in beautiful, tranquil places is in itself very calming and stress-reducing. Alongside this, trying new things, gaining new skills and learning ways to relax in the outdoors can be hugely uplifting and provide an invaluable opportunity to improve our confidence, self esteem and resilience.

Since the Coronavirus pandemic, many people have been able to experience the therapeutic power of being outdoors. We are interacting with nature in every moment, from the air we breathe, to the food we eat. Nature is always supporting us, providing us with clean air, inspiring us with its beauty, encouraging us to connect with the landscape. At Nature Works, we want to offer young people a multitude of different ways to connect with nature.

Drop ins

Please note: Our drop-in is closed for now but is likely to reopen in the autumn – location tbc!

The Nature Works Drop-In is for anyone aged 15-25 to come spend time outdoors and explore how nature can support your wellbeing. You can expect anything from fire building and cooking, to learning about nature (gardening, animals, the night sky, plants & herbs) and practising nature-based mindfulness/relaxing with the help of nature.

We’ll also be exploring our connection to nature through creative ways and green crafts, for example making bird feeders, insect hotels, making art using nature elements or practicing photography, collages and creative writing) – no crafty/creative/nature experience needed! Coming along and just having a chat and a snack in a lush space outdoors is also very much encouraged. 

If you’d like to have a chat before coming along/signing up, you can call or text Max (they/them pronouns) on 07943756151.

Ongoing Projects

OTR Nature Day at the Ranch is running another workshop in December, as we had lots of interest and some really great feedback from young people who attended the October half-term session.

• 🌳 The Ranch, Doncaster Rd, BS10 5PP
• 🕝 10:00 am – 3 pm
• 📆 Monday 18th December

Sign Up here!

Nature Works, Sport Works, and Art Works sit within OTR’s Community Partnerships Team. These projects are designed to offer you an alternative approach to mental health care. We want to offer a wide breadth of services to ensure that you can feel empowered and in control of your health and wellbeing, on your own terms.

We recognise that some young people face barriers to accessing mental health support, and so we actively encourage and invite young people from working class backgrounds, young people with disabilities, young men, young people with experience of care, young people for whom English is a second language, LGBTQ+ young people and young people of colour to our service. Please let us know if you are struggling to access support, for whatever reason, and we will try to support you to overcome those barriers. For example, we can work with interpreters, support you with route planning to get to the project, or offer additional emotional support.

We look forward to welcoming you to one of our projects soon!