Hello everyone, David here doing my Blog for October. It has been a very wet and windy month. Although the days/weeks have been flying by and I’ve never felt busier these past few months. Which is good! Plus I have to say whenever I’ve been out I seem to have dodged the rain, so that’s a bonus.
A highlight for this month was the vast number of webinars, lectures, meetings I’ve been to highlighting all the great progress across Scotland and North Ayrshire in bringing Green Health to the forefront of Health and Wellbeing upkeep and recovery. Helping to spearhead the mainstreaming of the natural environment as an asset and pathway for people to use as part of social prescribing from a GP, Physiotherapist, Social Worker, Health Visitor, Community Link Worker and many more in Health and Social Care sector. Topics ranging from NHS Land as an asset for community wellbeing; to how we look at a person’s journey from health and social care professional to that important horticultural group close to where they live; and ways to encouraging Green Health in to social prescribing. This is promising on many fronts as it encourages us in the North Ayrshire Green Health Partnership to learn what our fellow colleagues are accomplishing but also where we can share learning. This shared learning helps us all accelerate our aims and objectives when we can communicate openly and honestly about successes and barriers – how can we take that shared learning to overcome those challenges. It gives us renewed enthusiasm and inspires us to do better.
There are more Green Health opportunities than ever before in North Ayrshire, some restrictions are still in place depending on the groups capacity. If you want to know what Green Health opportunities are available where you are then get in touch with me at d.meechan@tcv.org.uk or 07773 200525.
It was also World Mental Health Day on the 10th of October! As a GHP this is an important occasion as we know of the powerful and positive impact Green Health can have on our Mental Health. Not just by taking part in an activity but surrounding yourself with North Ayrshire’s fantastic natural environment and taking the time to engage with people who are like-minded. Through connection to a community – something we have dearly missed due to the start of the pandemic… although the less said about that COVID at this stage the better.
Another wonderful highlight for the month of October was being invited along to Scottish Wildlife Trust Ayrshire’s (SWT), Taking Action for Nature Event on the 22nd of October. It was a great opportunity to celebrate the fantastic work SWT have completed over the years on 15 sites in Ayrshire, including wildlife reserves around Irvine and Kilwinning. As well as celebrate continued funding to further those achievements. We were invited along to SWT’s Shewalton Woods wildlife reserve in Irvine to plant 90 trees. It was a great way to get out, give back to the natural environment and network with so many great organisations and community groups on the aims and objectives of the North Ayrshire Green Health Partnership. As I was saying earlier so much of what we have missed has been that engagement with like-minded individuals who have the same passion and drive to help the environment and people’s Health and Wellbeing. So thank you again for the invite it was a truly great day. Here is the link if you want to know more about the Taking Action for Nature Project.
“The Trust joins eight other Scottish charities in receiving funding from the Scottish Power Foundation. The Action for Nature project will help connect people from diverse backgrounds with local wildlife, helping to equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to protect nature in their neighbourhoods.”
If you want to know more about anything in our Blog, get in contact with me on d.meechan@tcv.org.uk or 07773 200525.
