“The atmosphere was always welcoming, accepting and gently encouraging” – Sarah’s Story

For Sarah, taking part in the Green Connections Trafford wellbeing sessions was an opportunity to reconnect with nature and build meaningful relationships with others.

Sarah first discovered the programme through friends she had met on another nature wellbeing project the previous year:

“I was meeting new people, which was nice, and also reconnecting with people who I met on a similar project last year, it was really nice to have that continuity and that little bit of community.”

Together with some of those familiar faces, Sarah attended the weekly sessions at Trafford Ecology Park. The group took part in a range of activities designed to support wellbeing while helping participants explore and learn about the natural environment:

“We did things like tree identification, nature crafts and restorative yoga outside. But a lot of it was also about being together. Sitting around the fire, doing check-ins and talking about how we felt about nature.”

For Sarah, those moments of connection were just as important as the activities themselves:

“It felt like a really welcoming and cohesive space regardless of who was there. The atmosphere was always welcoming, accepting and gently encouraging.”

Living with health conditions and disabilities could sometimes make it difficult for Sarah to access nature independently. Being part of an organised and accessible group helped remove some of those barriers:

“I’m neurodivergent and deal with chronic pain, so knowing it was going to be well organised and accessible was really important to me. It provided for everyone where they were in that moment. If you needed to step back from something, that was completely fine.”

The programme also encouraged Sarah to spend more time outdoors than she otherwise might have done:

“I probably would not have been spending Wednesdays outdoors in nature. I would have been tied up with something stressful indoors. So it really has made a difference.”

Spending time in nature, especially with others who shared the same curiosity and appreciation, had a positive effect on her wellbeing:

“Being in nature gave me energy rather than taking it away. Even birdsong sometimes felt like a natural pain reliever. There was always something to notice”

Sarah particularly enjoyed activities that encouraged participants to experience nature in new ways, such as sensory exercises with trees or creating crafts from natural materials:

“It felt empowering to interact with nature like that and create something new. You learned new ways to connect with nature that you could take with you.”

For Sarah, nature connection did not need to involve long walks or big adventures. Small moments could also have a powerful impact:

“That connection could be really big or really small. Even just stepping outside, seeing what is flowering or pausing to listen to the birds could give you a moment of relief.”

Reflecting on her experience, Sarah encouraged others to try nature wellbeing groups if they had the opportunity:

“If you’ve got a group available to you, go along. I’ve learned that being in nature together can be a big release. You learn new ways to connect with nature and what works for you.”

Through Green Connections Trafford, Sarah strengthened her connection with nature and built relationships with a supportive community that shared the experience alongside her.

*name changed to protect identity