Children’s Mental Health Week on the Heath
This week (5th-11th Feb) marks Children’s Mental Health Week 2024. We work with young people on various programmes throughout the year - supporting them to engage with the natural environment on the Heath and maintain good mental and physical health.
Youth volunteers building a planter in our yard
We welcome school groups, youth volunteers, young carers, families and community groups to enjoy some fresh air and discover our green spaces. Young people gain the opportunity to gain practical skills, learn more about the natural world, meet others and help protect their local green space.
We have weekly Youth Volunteering sessions, and have run tailored activities for young people struggling with school attendance, which are now continuing in partnership with our friends at the city of London’s Learning Team. As well as conservation work, they participate in nature art sessions, outdoor crafts and have enjoyed forest bathing!
A family ramble across the Heath
Youth volunteers learning to identify plants
The benefits of spending time outside have long been acknowledged. The NHS describes the term green social prescribing as the ‘practice of supporting people to engage in nature-based interventions and activities to improve their mental and physical health.’ Research has shown that being in nature can reduce feelings such as anger, fear, and stress. It can reduce blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and can lower our stress hormones.
Young carers on a guided walk
We offer regular, free activities and guided walks on the Heath - we’ve a family gardening drop in on Thursday 15th, a family ramble on the 17th and much more - check out our What’s on page to find out more and get your family involved.
This Children’s Mental Health Week we’d like to extend big thank you to our generous funders Camden Giving, The John Lyon’s Trust and TFL’s Walking and Cycling Grant London, who help make all of this work with young people possible.
