Welcome to the latest Ecominds update

As summer rather lazily makes its exit, for many, the most colourful and dynamic season is making its presence felt. To coincide, Ecominds is also preparing for a new burst of activity to spread the 'Feel better outside, feel better inside' message for autumn.

We have a fresh set of posters and postcards with a seasonal feel and a brand new photo competition to test your creativity. With all the magical colour, shadows and soft lighting that autumn brings – there’s no better excuse to get outside and into nature with your camera! See below for more.

Also, Kent’s Abbey Physic Community Garden need your votes to help win funding from Natwest CommunityForce. They stand a chance of being awarded £6,000 towards the continued running of the garden. There are only a few days left, so spare a few moments to vote! (Note: voting has now closed).

As always, we love to hear about any Ecominds success stories and news updates. If you have anything to share with readers, please send them to me.

Best wishes
Ken Ryan, Ecominds Senior Communications Officer

Ecominds news

Autumn colour for Ecominds

Our 'Feel better outside, feel better inside' poster campaign returns for autumn with a fresh set of posters, postcards and bookmarks designed to inspire outdoor activity as winter fast approaches.

Ecominds projects, local Minds and Mind shops will be using the materials to spread the important message that you can improve your mental health by getting outside and into nature.

The Mind website will also feature some fun ideas for autumnal activities and host blogs from Ecominds volunteers, and Mind Chief Executive, Paul Farmer explaining how Ecominds is transforming people’s lives.

Check out the Mind website from Monday, 22 October to see the new content and access downloadable versions of the posters.

Fancy winning an organic food hamper? Tell our partners at VisitWoods about your recent woodland adventures

Ecominds is delighted to be working in partnership with The Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. As one of our supporters we would like your feedback and would really appreciate you taking the time to complete a short online survey on visiting woodlands.

Project updates

Kent: Garden becomes LAND Learning Centre

Abbey Physic Community Garden in Faversham, has become a Permaculture LAND Learning Centre. The garden is now part of a network that can demonstrate the benefits of permaculture (the use of natural principles to provide food, shelter and energy in ways that are healthy and efficient).

Groups wishing to find out more can visit the garden with support from the LAND Group Visit Scheme, which can refund up to £150 of travel expenses. To be eligible you need to be a not-for-profit group of between 10 and 20 people and have an interest in growing food or starting a local food project.

If you’re interested in visiting, email James at Abbey Physic Garden or check out the Permaculture Association website: 

West Sussex: Stroll for Solidarity

Worthing and Arun Mind, who run the Parks and Minds Ecominds project, are organising a Stroll for Solidarity 5K walk on Sunday, 30 October. The event involves a walk along the seafront, starting at 10.30 am from Denton Gardens – a park that Ecominds’ gardeners helped renovate. The walk will help to raise awareness of the benefits that outdoor activities can have on mental health whilst showing solidarity for those with mental health problems.

Visit the Worthing Mind website for more information and registration details.

Yorkshire & Humber: Create to Grow gets runner-up award

Create to Grow, An Ecominds project that improves the mental health of patients on a mental health secure unit was runner up in Humber NHS Foundation Trust Staff Awards for Excellence. In a competitive field the project narrowly missed out in the Innovation and Progress category.

Create to Grow in Hull, has transformed five courtyards into green and growing spaces with the help of six visiting artists and patients from the unit.

London: Urban Growth launch Elm Village Community Garden

Staff and volunteers welcomed 400 visitors to the launch of Urban Growth’s new community garden. On the day, visitors were able to explore the garden roll up their sleeves to do some harvesting and planting. Urban Growth has transformed a neglected area of grass and shrubs at Elm Village into a productive and ecological garden. The garden provides valuable social interactions for the local community in Camden Town.

Fundraising

Looking for funding ideas?

Funding Central is a free website for charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. The site provides access to thousands of funding and finance opportunities, plus a wealth of tools and resources supporting organisations to develop sustainable income strategies appropriate to their needs.

Green Grants 2011

Grimple's Green Grants offer up to £40,000 to environmentally friendly projects. They are offering funds up to £2,000 to small projects and organisations with a special £10,000 grant available to one project voted for by the public. The deadline for applications is 30 November.

Events

GreenSpace conference: Prescribing Green Space

The charity GreenSpace is hosting a conference in London on 23 November exploring how natural resources such as parks can help people recover from a variety of health problems and how health and park services can work collaboratively. Thrive, who run one of their Ecominds projects in Battersea Park, contribute to the programme. Find out more and book your place at the GreenSpace website.