Family and friend carers across Hertfordshire are set to benefit from new sensory-based nature experiences following the success of a pilot Wilder Wellbeing Walk project delivered by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and Carers in Hertfordshire.

Earlier this year, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust partnered with charity Carers in Hertfordshire to deliver a four-week pilot programme for unpaid carers at Cassiobury Park in Watford and Stanborough Park in Welwyn Garden City. Carers in Hertfordshire is a countywide charity supporting people of all ages who help or look after a partner, relative or friend with an illness, disability or other care need.

Designed to give carers a break from their caring responsibilities, the walks encouraged participants to reconnect with nature while boosting their wellbeing. Each week explored a different habitat, including woodland, meadows and chalk streams, alongside creative and mindful activities inspired by the natural environment.

Following the pilot's success, Carers in Hertfordshire staff and volunteers have now been trained by the Trust's Wilder Communities team, giving them the tools and confidence to run more nature focused events and activities themselves. This will ensure more carers across the county will benefit from close encounters with nature.

Amy Trotter, Wilder Communities Officer at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, said:

"This has been an incredibly rewarding project to be part of, and it's been wonderful to see the positive difference these sessions have made for carers. They give so much of themselves every day, so having the chance to slow down, spend time in nature and simply be present has been invaluable.

"Seeing Carers in Hertfordshire staff and volunteers trained to lead the nature activities themselves is fantastic. It means more carers will be able to benefit from these experiences, making them a sustainable part of the charity's support services."

One participant, a female carer, demonstrated just how powerful spending time in nature can be.

During the first session, the carer was quiet and reserved. As the group paused beside the river to sit quietly and listen to birdsong, flowing water and the wind in the trees, Amy noticed the carer becoming emotional.

"She told me she never gets the chance to simply sit, enjoy nature and have time for herself," Amy said. "It was a reminder of how important it is for carers to make space for their own wellbeing, just as they would for any other essential appointment."

Over the following four weeks, the carer’s confidence and enthusiasm blossomed. She embraced every activity, from bark rubbing and tree hugging to stream dipping and insect surveying, often commenting that she felt like a child again. Her dry sense of humour emerged, she began sharing her own knowledge of wildlife, and she appeared noticeably more relaxed and engaged with each session.

Amy added: "Watching the carer’s transformation over the course of the programme was incredibly special. She seemed able to switch off from the pressures of caring, rediscover her curiosity and reconnect with herself through nature. It was a privilege to witness that journey."

The carer’s journey supports the scientific studies resulting in evidence that being in nature clears your mind and restores your calm. Many studies have found that time spent noticing and being in nature lifts our mental health. Being close to nature, even for short periods of time, can significantly change the way people think and feel. What’s more, undertaking activities like walking and gardening in natural settings has been shown to reduce stress, help people think clearly, make them less anxious, less likely to become depressed, and less likely either to dwell on negative emotions or have unhelpful, self-critical thoughts.

Nature is also proven to combat feelings of loneliness and connect us with other people. The carers’ walks provide a way of building friendships, and for some they provide a non-judgemental, stress-free space where they can escape a sense of social isolation and feel less alone. This is something recognised by another of the walk participants, who said:

“We have a good laugh, seeing as we’ve just all met – it’s joyful. Being a carer can be quite a lonely experience so it’s nice to get out in the fresh air and greenery. It’s good to have these walks organised as it makes you do it.”

For more information about how the Trust is helping people connect with nature and improve their wellbeing go to www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/wilder-communities. 

To find out more about Carers in Hertfordshire and the support they provide visit www.carersinherts.org.uk  or call 01992 58 69 69.