The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming – Summer is here! Now is the perfect time to get outdoors and find out what outdoor activities are available in your community, explore that new place and share your experiences in nature. Here is an update on what the Green Health Partnership has been up to in the last few months…
Green Health Network
We held the second meeting of the North Ayrshire Green Health Network in March. There was a good turnout at the Hayocks Community Hall in Stevenston, some new faces and lots of productive chat! As a result, there have been lots of connections made between different individuals and groups and skills are being shared. George Kyle from the Eglinton Growers has been up to Barrmill Community Garden to share his expertise on food growing – a project he didn’t even know about until he met Fiona from Barrmill at the Green Health Network! I’ve also heard rumours of polytunnel building skills from the mainland being shared across the water on Cumbrae – I’d love to hear more stories like this!
The next meeting of the Green Health Network will be on Thursday the 4th of July, from 6.30 – 8.30 at the Garnock Community Campus. Please let Rebecca Strofton know if you’re able to make it by emailing (r.strofton@tcv.org.uk). See you there!
Referral pathways
We are continuing to work closely with partners delivering Green Health projects to start integrating their opportunities into KA Leisure’s existing exercise on referral programme, Active North Ayrshire. During consultations people are now being offered opportunities to go along to The Ayrshire Community Trust (TACT) Community Garden, take part in conservation sessions with Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) and join the Breaking Ground gardening project run by the North Ayrshire Rangers at Eglinton. We are starting to see people taking up these opportunities which will have great benefits for their physical and mental health.
Events and meetings
We’ve been out and about across North Ayrshire meeting with a variety of staff from the Health and Social Care Partnership, Allied Health Professionals and locality planning groups raising awareness of the benefits of getting outdoors. It is also helping us to understand some of the major barriers that prevent people getting outdoors and/or participating in green activities. We’ll be taking all of this on board as we continue to develop links and pathways between green health activities and people needing or wanting to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.
Green Health Week
And finally, back in April we celebrated Scotland’s first Green Health Week. Here is a snapshot of just some of the activities that took place…
During the last week of April 2019 people across North Ayrshire have been walking, cycling, litter picking, gardening, maintaining paths, planting wildflowers, having fun and spending time outdoors engaging with nature!
With a jam-packed programme of activities across all 6 localities there were lots of opportunities for people to have a go and try something new.
Green Health Week culminated in an action-packed day at Eglinton Country Park where there were lots of activities on offer including Cani-fit (running with your dog!), guided walks, led cycles, nordik walking, outdoor dance, tai chi and yoga.
Thank you to everyone that took part in Green Health Week, especially those that delivered activities throughout the week. We’re already looking forward to Green Health Week 2020!
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