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Free Natural Health Service courses available this spring

14 March 2024

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West Cheshire residents can benefit from a range of free nature-based activity courses to help boost their health and wellbeing this spring.


The 12-week courses are part of Cheshire's Natural Health Service, which is managed by The Mersey Forest  in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council. The service uses the natural environment to address local health inequalities and improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities in the area. 

There are four courses currently  taking  place across some of the borough's parks, green spaces, and woodlands. 
 

  • Healthy conservation – A fun outdoor session, taking part in the wonderful Whitby Park in Ellesmere Port. The sessions will help you improve your strength and stamina through nature-based conservation projects, boosting practical skills and confidence, increasing physical activity, Whilst connecting with others. 
     
  • Health walks - A safe and sociable place to take part in guided walks around Marbury Country Park in Northwich, which are tailored to individual needs and designed to gradually increase physical activity levels and share experiences. The sessions also include a creative element and offer the chance to produce imagery inspired by nature. 
     
  • Mindful contact with nature – Taking place in Helsby, Frodham and Northwich these sessions are focused on nature-based mindfulness practice and outdoor Tai Chi. This course is designed to help you build resilience from day-to-day triggers of stress and are also shown to increase capacity to self-manage long-term chronic conditions.  
     
  • Gardening for all - Gardening and food growing activities in a social setting at Whitby Park, Ellesmere Port. The guided sessions encourage tailored levels of physical activity and focus on learning new skills and meeting new people.  

Many things that affect our health can't be treated by doctors or medicines alone. That is where initiatives such as the Natural Health Service come in, offering people alternatives which might be suggested to you through social prescribing.  
 
A national Social Prescribing Day takes place every year on the 14th of March, highlighting how it works and how it can change lives.  Social prescribing connects people to non-medical support to address their needs - it may be health conditions, loneliness, debt, or stress.

To speak to a social prescribing organisation in your area, simply contact your GP who can put you in touch with a local link worker.  Research shows that access to and use of green spaces, whether in our towns, cities or villages or further afield, provides mental health benefits, including restoration from stress, reduced psychological distress and decreased depression and anxiety. Green social prescribing, such as that offered through the Natural Health Service, is a great example of this. 

Gareth Howatson, Co-ordinator for the Natural Health Service, explains: "Through our Natural Health Service we've been able to connect with so many amazing members of the public who have taken part in our activities. By holding these activities outdoors, in the safe spaces that nature provide, many people feel comfortable to share experiences with one another which is hugely beneficial.   
 
"As humans, we all experience what feel like our own challenges in life, and we often forget that other people are also facing challenges of their own. Our programmes remind us of this and provide comfort in knowing we aren't facing our challenges alone". 

One participant who has previously accessed the course said "I feel I've benefited hugely from these sessions. I came to them as a result of feeling very stressed and anxious due to a recent family trauma. I wasn't sleeping and was breaking down all the time. I couldn't see a way forward. In parallel to attending a therapist, this course has helped me feel calmer, more focused, sleep better and have coping strategies when I hit tough times in the future". 

A full list of upcoming Natural Health Service courses can be found below. To find out more about how to access the Natural Health Service courses please email: mail@merseyforest.org.uk or call: 01925 816217. All sessions are free of charge to access. 

Gardening For All at Whitby Park, Ellesmere Port  – Thursdays 10.30am – 2.30pm, from 14 April to 13 June 2024.

Mindful Contact in Nature at Helsby Community Centre, Mondays 11am – 1pm or 1.30pm – 3.30pm, from 18 March to 3 June 2024.

Healthy Conservation at Whitby Park, Ellesmere Port, Tuesdays 10am – 12.30pm  from 2 April to 18 June 2024.

Mindful Contact in Nature at Castle Park, Frodsham, Thursdays 10am – 12pm or 1pm – 3pm from 4 April – 30 May 2024

Health Walks at Marbury Country Park, Northwich, Tuesdays 1.30pm – 3pm from 16 April to 9 July 2024.

Health Walks at Marbury Country Park, Northwich, Fridays 10.30am – 12.30pm from 19 April 2024 to 12 July 2024. 

Mindful Contact in Nature at Castle Park, Frodsham, Thursdays 10am – 12pm or 1pm – 3pm from 6 June to 25 July 2024. 

Mindful Contact in Nature at Helsby Community Centre, Mondays 11am – 1pm or 1.30pm –  3.30pm from 10 June - 29 July 2024. 


Mindful Contact in Nature at Vickersway Park, Northwich, Wednesdays 10.30am – 11.30am from 5 June  – 24 July 2024. 

Gardening for All at Whitby Park, Ellesmere Port, Wednesdays 10.30am – 2.30pm from 5 May  – 21 August 2024. 

Gardening for All at Whitby Park, Ellesmere Port, Thursdays 10.30am – 2.30pm from 20 June – 5 September 2024.  

 

 

 

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Local community join together to plant new woodland on Cheshire farm

08 March 2024

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Volunteers, including residents and a local cubs and beaver group, have been helping to plant several sections of new woodland on a farm near Malpas, Cheshire.

The community planting event at Lower Moss Farm near Malpas was organised by farming advisors Elm Associates and The Mersey Forest, who have supported the landowner to plant over 6,000 trees on the site.

Jane Atkinson, Farm Conservation Advisor at Elm Associates, said: "The tree planting on this site is part of a wider conservation plan for the farm. It has been designed to link together semi ancient woodland and a Site of Special Scientific Interest, connecting habitats and creating wildlife corridors, as well as protect the farmland from soil erosion.

The turn out from the local community was fantastic. They all worked really hard to get the trees in the ground which will continue to benefit the local area for years to come."

The project has been funded through The Mersey Forest's Trees for Climate programme, part of the government-led Nature for Climate Fund which supports England's Tree Action Plan.

The programme can fund up to 100% of tree planting costs, plus 15 years maintenance payments. The Mersey Forest's experienced woodland advisors can provide landowners with as much support as they need throughout the planning, funding and planting process.

Paul Nolan, Director of The Mersey Forest, said: "As the areas local Community Forest it is great to be involved in projects such as this, where the community are helping to create a woodland that will not only benefit the farm but also the local wildlife and surround area.
 
"Getting out in nature benefits us all and trees can play a major role in boosting the health and wellbeing of our neighbourhoods, as well as helping areas adapt to a changing climate."

Biodegradable tree guards have been used at this site to protect the growing trees from damage by browsing wildlife, providing them with the best chance to establish into a thriving woodland.

All trees planted in Cheshire and Merseyside are helping to grow The Mersey Forest and the larger Northern Forest, which stretches from Liverpool to the Yorkshire coast.

Landowners who are interested in transforming their land with trees, whether they have a small pocket of unused land or several hectares of non-productive farmland, are encouraged to get in touch with The Mersey Forest ahead of next year's planting season (October to March).
 
Visit: Merseyforest.org.uk/planttrees for more information and to complete an enquiry form or call: 01925 816217.

For more information about Elm Associates visit: elmassociates.co.uk
 

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The Mersey Forest joins in with Lunar New Year celebrations

01 February 2024

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The Mersey Forest are excited to be involved in this year's Lunar New Year celebrations in Liverpool.
Taking place from Friday 9 to Sunday 11 February, local immersive experts Focal Studios will be dazzling audiences with the story of 'The Boy and the Pearl' over 3 spectacular nights of projections. The projection show, lasting 10 mins, will be played on repeat at The Bombed Out Church between 5.30pm-9pm each night.

The grounds of the church will be brought to life with a stunning audio-visual art installation developed by Focal Studios and The Bombed Out Church's community engagement team. Inspired by traditional Chinese folklore, the story of 'The Boy and The Pearl' has been developed in collaboration with Pagoda arts, the Bombed Out Church and local artists. 

Acting as the centre piece for the garden, a 7ft high driftwood dragon sculpture depicting the wood dragon will be crafted by local artist Judith Herring using pieces of up-cycled wood and driftwood. Reflecting the city's wider Lunar New Year narrative, the dragon will possess a large, enchanting pearl, illuminated from within.
 
Building on the success of the Zhezhi Rabbit display for Lunar New Year 2023 and staying true to their commitment to harness creativity for positive change, Focal Studios are collaborating with over 30 local schools and community members for 2024. Together, they will create a surge of shimmering leaves to encircle the dragon sculpture, serving as the focal point of this enchanting installation.
 
The Mersey Forest will be part of the celebrations at St Luke's Bombed Out Church during the daytime. 
Friday: 3pm - 5pm, Saturday: 12pm - 5pm, Sunday 11am - 5pm.
  • Each day The Mersey Forest will be giving away 500 small trees for people to plant at home. This is a great way for people to play their part in helping to grow the Mersey Forest and will be a reminder of their weekend celebrating the Chinese New Year.
     
  • There will be a Tree of Hope to capture peoples' thoughts and views on trees and woodlands in their community and where they'd like to see more. This information will feed into The Mersey Forest's Plan, a strategic guide to the work they do with partners across Cheshire and Merseyside.
     
  • The Mersey Forest team will also be sharing the benefits of their Natural Health Service, which harnesses the power of the natural environment to improve both mental and physical health. The service offers activities such as health walks, mindful contact with nature sessions, horticulture therapy and practical conservation sessions.

Find out more about the Lunar New Year Celebrations

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Working with local landowners to create riparian woodlands

26 January 2024

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River Bollin

The Mersey Forest has recently launched a Riparian Woodland Creation Project, which aims to help reduce flood risk and improve water quality by increasing tree cover along the watercourses of Cheshire and Merseyside.
 

This is a new, grant funded opportunity, which will cover up to 100% of the costs of implementation and ongoing management for 15 years, leaving a lasting legacy on your land and making a positive contribution to the local community.  

Experienced advisors from our team will support landowners to develop their scheme free of charge and, as we're a locally based organisation, we will visit the proposed site to ensure a planting scheme is designed that works for the land and the landowner. 
The project aims to transform the banks of our waterways into flourishing havens of biodiversity, while helping to reduce flood risk, improving water quality and enhancing the resilience of your land.  

We're keen to work with landowners on this project, creating woodland that can work alongside productive agricultural land. Landowners can access our Trees for Climate or Grow Back Greener grant schemes which can cover up to 100% of woodland creation costs. We can also look at other Natural Flood Management (NFM) options such as leaky dams which have been highly effective in other areas of the Mersey Forest and elsewhere in the country. 

Why create riparian woodland? 

  • Reduced soil erosion. Riparian woodland slows the flow of runoff before reaching a watercourse, allowing sediment to settle, and holding valuable soil on your land, instead of it washing away downstream. Ditches also take longer to silt up, so management is reduced. 

  • Livestock benefits. Trees can provide valuable shelter for livestock during winter and shade during summer and help to reduce livestock contact with waterborne diseases. Additionally, where footpaths run alongside watercourses, fenced off riparian buffer strip can separate people and dogs from your fields, reducing the risk of livestock worrying.  

  • Bank erosion. If you are losing parts of a field due to bank erosion, strategically planting riparian woodland along these sections will help to stabilise the riverbank through the tree's root structures. 

  • Countryside Stewardship. Maintenance payments are often available for land on which woodland is planted and NFM interventions are installed. ​​

  • Improve water quality. Riparian woodland helps to filter runoff and reduce the effects of spray drift, reducing loss of fertilisers, pesticides and sediment into watercourses and helping you meet the farming rules for water.  

  • Crop management. Straightening field edges can enhance management operations and woodland provides habitat for pollinators and predators of pests. 

  • Reduce flood risk. Riparian woodland acts like a sponge, absorbing floodwaters and slowing their flow. This can help to reduce the risk of flooding downstream by temporarily storing flood water and reducing peak flows downstream. 

  • Increased biodiversity. Riparian woodlands provide a home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Planting riparian woodland on your land can help to support biodiversity and create a haven for wildlife. 

  • Reduced water temperatures. The shade provided by riparian trees will have an increasingly important part to play as the effects of climate change increase. Cool water temperatures are critical to the survival of many aquatic species.  

 

Potential sites for riparian woodland creation 


Riparian woodland can be anything from a narrow strip of trees and shrubs directly along the bank top, to wider strips of woodland extending onto the floodplain.

 

All riparian woodland, whatever its size, is beneficial and we're keen to talk to landowners about potential woodland creation schemes big or small (funding is available for projects of 0.1ha upwards).

 

If you own or manage land along the banks of rivers, streams, or drainage ditches and would like to explore if riparian woodland could help these areas, we would love to hear from you. 


Woodland creation grants are available 

 

Mersey Forest is currently offering grant funding for woodland creation through the Government's multi-million-pound, national Trees for Climate and Grow Back Greener programmes. This offers: 

  • Grant funding to cover up to 100% of the costs of woodland creation

  • Woodland creation, design, planning and planting advice from experienced, professional woodland advisors. 

  • Support for fences, water troughs, gates, contractors, Natural Flood

  • ​Management structures (such as leaky dams), and more

  • A funded ongoing maintenance plan to ensure success.   

Interested in learning more? 

 

If you have any questions about planting riparian woodland on your land or would like to know more about how to access this funding, please contact mail@merseyforest.org.uk using "Riparian Woodlands Project" and your site name in the email title; or call 01925 816217. 

 

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Revitalise your wellbeing this new year with Cheshire's Natural Health Service

19 December 2023

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Mindfulness session at Castle Park, Frodsham
As the calendar turns a new leaf, and people consider what resolutions they are setting for the year ahead, there's no better time to prioritise your well-being.

Cheshire's Natural Health Service Programme offers a unique and refreshing approach to kickstart your journey to a healthier, happier you.
  

Explore some of the benefits and experiences of taking part in this local initiative.
  • Connecting with nature – Cheshire's Natural Health Servic programme encourages individuals to immerse themselves in the beauty of the natural world. Whether it's a serene woodland walk, taking part in some gardening activities or simply pausing to appreciate the stillness of nature during an outdoor mindfulness session, the program emphasises the therapeutic power of the outdoors.
     
  • Physical activity in green spaces - engaging in physical activity surrounded by nature is a cornerstone of the programme. From invigorating walks around Marbury Park to healthy conservation sessions that allow people of all abilities to get involved and get active while helping the local environment, the Mersey Forest provides a diverse range of opportunities to get active. Exercise in natural settings has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and boost overall fitness.
     
  • Mindful moments - The New Year often prompts reflections on mental well-being. Cheshire's Natural Health Service encourages mindfulness and meditation amidst the tranquillity of a woodland or greenspace. Mindful moments in nature can enhance mental clarity, reduce stress, and promote a sense of inner calm. 
     
  • Embrace the seasons - The Natural Health Service programme runs throughout the year, whatever the weather. It provides a great opportunity to watch the seasons change and connect you more with natures natural cycles, something many of us have come disconnected from, as we spend more of our lives indoors. 
     
  • Social connections - The community aspect of the Natural Health Service is invaluable. Joining the programme provides opportunities to connect with others in your community who are looking at ways to improve their wellbeing. Social interactions in natural settings foster a sense of belonging and support and many of our regular participants have shared how much they enjoy this aspect of the sessions. 
     
  • New Year, new habits - As resolutions are set for the New Year, participating in Cheshire's Natural Health Service Programme provides a unique avenue to develop sustainable, health-focused habits. Whether it's committing to regular nature walks, embracing mindful practices, or incorporating forest-based fitness routines, the programme supports positive lifestyle changes. If you can't make the dates and times, you can still take inspiration from the programme and head out to your local woodland, park or greenspace to get active. Visit our things to do page for some ideas of places to visit.  
     
  • Accessible and inclusive - The programme strives to be accessible to everyone. Our programmes and activities are designed to accommodate varying fitness levels and abilities, ensuring that individuals of all ages and backgrounds can participate and enjoy the numerous health benefits. 
Let 2024 be the year you put yourself first, committing to get outside that bit more, breathing in the forest air, and connecting more with nature. Whether you're seeking physical fitness, improving your mental health, or creating more social connections, Cheshire's Natural Health Service could be the programme for you. 
 
Find out more about all our activities on the Natural Health Service website


 

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