A former teacher and qualified psychotherapist is bringing people together through nature with a free community event at Werneth Low this weekend.
Josie Lynch, a local mum and founder of Living Nature Wellness CIC, has created a range of nature-based wellbeing programmes aimed at helping people reconnect with nature, themselves and their local community.
The organisation, which is based at Werneth Low, runs outdoor clubs for children, groups combining nature and psychotherapy, an outdoor circle for adults and free community events.
Josie, who lives in Hyde and has spent around 12 years in the area, said the idea for Living Nature came from seeing children struggling with feelings they had nowhere to put.
Josie said: “I started Living Nature because I kept seeing the same and experiencing the same thing – people, especially children, carrying feelings they didn’t have anywhere to put.
“Nature gave me a way to help with that which never felt possible in a clinic room. So, I built an organisation around it.”
Josie previously worked in education before training as a psychotherapist, where she continued to work with children who were struggling within the education system.
Living Nature’s children’s programmes, which currently cater for youngsters aged five to 16, aim to provide a screen-free environment where children can develop their relationship with nature while also learning new skills.
Older children can take on a stewardship role within the organisation, with the hope that they can eventually progress into paid work opportunities when they reach 17.
Josie said the organisation is also focused on tackling wider issues affecting children’s wellbeing, including increased technology use and a lack of the freedom previous generations had to spend time outdoors.
“When I was a kid, I had so much more freedom. I’d be out in the woods, and my parents wouldn’t know where I was.
“Children don’t really have that now, and it does really impact their mental health and wellbeing, the amount of time that they have in terms of freedom.”
Living Nature has expanded its programmes this year to include more opportunities for adults, including its Held in Nature programme for women.
The organisation is also seeking funding to make its programmes more accessible to the local community, with Josie currently working towards a major funding bid which could support a range of nature-based indoor and outdoor activities over the next two years.
A community survey is also being used to help shape the organisation’s future work.
Josie said early responses have highlighted loneliness, isolation and anxiety among local residents, as well as people feeling disconnected from their community.
She hopes Living Nature can help address those issues by making better use of local green spaces and bringing people together.
Free Wild & Gather event
On Sunday, September 27, Living Nature will host its first open community event at Werneth Low.
Wild & Gather has been organised to coincide with the Gee Cross Scarecrow Festival and World Rivers Day.
The free event will begin at 10am at the Werneth Low visitor centre and is open to everyone.
Visitors will take part in a treasure hunt before discovering a scarecrow created by children who have attended Living Nature’s clubs over the summer.
The group will then hear the story the children have created for the scarecrow, take part in water-themed activities and games, before heading out on a walk around Werneth Low.
As they walk, participants will collect litter and natural materials which will later be used to create a large piece of river-themed land art.
Josie said the event is designed to be accessible to people of different ages and abilities, with a shorter accessible route available alongside a longer walk for those wanting to stretch their legs.
The day will finish with the group using the materials gathered during the walk to create a shared piece of art highlighting the importance of protecting the environment.
Josie said: “It’s really relaxing. Essentially, I just want people to come and spend four hours with me outside and just notice what it feels like and how you can spend time outside.
“We’re really trying to support the community with developing a stronger nature connection, which links to stronger mental health and physical health outcomes and making them feel part of the community.”
She added that the event is about more than simply getting people outdoors.
“One of the most important parts of Living Nature is obviously not just about the nature, but the community side of it, and making people feel safe with other people.
“So, it’s the connection part of it as well.”
Josie hopes Wild & Gather will be the first of many opportunities for local people to experience Living Nature’s approach to wellbeing.
More information about Living Nature Wellness CIC and its programmes can be found at www.livingnatureuk.org.
Residents are also being encouraged to complete Living Nature’s community survey to help shape future programmes and funding applications: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScfZ-un8XEs_rtpVZkWec3DR56z4nMbLgV1PTFmSqgAsDJ4Yw/viewform?usp=send_form