As a community forest school, we will be running a number of fully funded sessions to help people to connect with nature activities include : Cooking in the Woods program, funded by National Lottery to our amazing Ancient Woodlands education sessions, with activities designed by Anna Outdoors and our Evergreen Elders sessions to help people living with dementia.
Dementia and Nature connection
“There are indeed many good things in life which may be unequally apportioned and no such serious loss arise; but the need of quiet, the need of air, and I believe the sight of sky and of things growing, seem human needs, common to all men.“
Octavia Hill, one of the founders of the National Trust
Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of progressive conditions that affect the brain.
Each type of dementia stops a person’s brain cells (neurones) working properly in specific areas, affecting their ability to remember, think and speak.
By 2025, it’s estimated that over one million people in the UK will have a diagnosis of dementia – and almost all of us will know someone living with the condition.
Research shows that just 15 minutes outdoors or engaging with nature is good for health and well-being and even more so if you live with dementia. There is no demand on memory to enjoy the sun on your face, to listen to bird song, watch leaves swaying in the wind or catching sight an animal of insect moving around. Out in nature, you can just BE and relax!
At Out to the Woods CIC, we decided to run sessions specifically for people living with dementia and with help from the Sensory Trust, we will be running these over the next few months at Age UK in Faversham and Sittingbourne, Milton Country Park and Admiral Woods. Please contact us for details of where and when sessions are running.
Source: https://www.dementiauk.org/about-dementia/dementia-information/what-is-dementia/
https://dementiaadventure.org/resources/top-tips-for-connecting-to-nature-and-the-outdoors/