Nature and mental health

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Useful contacts 

Where else could I try?

We've collected together some useful contacts in the following areas:

• Gardening, farming and conservation
• Pets and wildlife
• Places to explore
• Walking and rambling
• Volunteering

Gardening, farming and conservation

Carry on Gardening

carryongardening.org.uk
Help for anyone with a disability to start or continue gardening.

The Conservation Volunteers (TCV)

tcv.org.uk
Runs conservation activities and a network of Green Gyms across the UK.

Grow Wild

growwilduk.com (English)
growwilduk.com/cy (Welsh)
Kew Gardens outreach initiative that aims to bring people together to enjoy wildflowers and nature.

National Allotment Society

nsalg.org.uk
National organisation that upholds the rights and interests of the UK's allotment community.

Royal Horticultural Society

rhs.org.uk
National charity for gardening and plantlife.

Social Farms & Gardens

farmgarden.org.uk
Information on care farming and community growing projects, including a network of local farms.

Thrive

thrive.org.uk
Charity that runs gardening projects for people with mental health problems.

Pets and wildlife

Big Butterfly Count

bigbutterflycount.org
Survey of butterflies in the UK.

Blue Cross

bluecross.org.uk
Animal charity that helps sick, injured and homeless pets.

Bumblebee Conservation Trust

bumblebeeconservation.org
Aims to protect and raise awareness of bumblebees.

Hedgehog Street

01584 890801
bighedgehogmap.org
Campaigns to help protect hedgehogs.

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)

rspca.org.uk
Animal charity working to prevent cruelty and promote kindness to animals in England and Wales.

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)

rspb.org.uk
Campaigning and conservation projects to protect wildlife and restore habitats.

Places to explore

Canal and River Trust

canalrivertrust.org.uk (English)
canalrivertrust.org.uk/cymraeg (Welsh)
Looks after canals, rivers and locks in England and Wales.

Forestry England

forestryengland.uk
Works to protect England's woods and forests. Includes a searchable directory.

National Garden Scheme

ngs.org.uk
Lists gardens and walks open to the public across England and Wales.

National Parks UK

nationalparks.uk
Lists national parks across England and Wales.

National Trust

nationaltrust.org.uk
Lists walks and open gardens, parks and estates that you can visit.

Natural Resources Wales (Cyfoeth Naturiol)

naturalresourceswales.gov.uk
Oversees and protects natural sites in Wales.

Woodland Trust

woodlandtrust.org.uk
Protects trees and forests in the UK.

Walking, rambling and adventuring

Black Girls Hike

bghuk.com
Provides a safe space for Black women to explore the outdoors. Hosts nationwide group hikes, outdoor activity days and training events.

Parkrun

parkrun.org.uk
Organises free, weekly, 5km timed runs across the UK.

Ramblers

ramblers.org.uk
Supports people throughout England and Wales to spend time walking outdoors, through their programmes and community.

Walking for Health

walkingforhealth.org.uk
Supports a network of walking groups across England.

Wilderness Foundation

wildernessfoundation.org.uk
Offers facilitated courses in wilderness therapy.

Volunteering

Do IT

doit.life
Lists UK volunteering opportunities.

Groundwork

groundwork.org.uk
Aims to help improve local communities and provides details of volunteering opportunities.

The Wildlife Trusts

wildlifetrusts.org
Organisation made up of local membership groups which care for nature sites.

This information was published in November 2021. We will revise it in 2024.

References and bibliography available on request.

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