I have always been drawn to two things: mental health and the natural world. From a young age, I have been interested in promoting good mental health, and much of my education has reflected that passion and my hope of one day building a career in that field. Alongside this, I have always loved nature, wildlife, and all the little creepy crawlies that many people overlook.

I was lucky enough to grow up in the Lake District, surrounded by incredible countryside and endless opportunities to experience the beauty of the natural world. Spending time outdoors gave me an early appreciation for wildlife and the quiet sense of wonder that nature can bring.

In 2023, after years of raising my children, I began looking for volunteer work that could help me build up-to-date, relevant skills and eventually lead to employment. During that search, I came across The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery, a nature-based wellbeing recovery programme created after Covid to help reduce loneliness and isolation. It immediately felt like the perfect opportunity to bring together the two areas I care most deeply about: mental wellbeing and nature I have now been volunteering with the programme for the past three years, and it has been an incredibly rewarding experience.

Our sessions have included a wide variety of activities, all rooted in connection, wellbeing, and the natural environment. We have done nature-themed crafts, taken part in ecological surveys such as the Wildlife Trusts' Shoresearch surveys, and enjoyed cooking using food grown by the group in the allotment. We have explored rockpools, taken part in beach cleans, and welcomed other members of the Trust to speak to us about their roles in conserving wildlife in our local area. These have included members of the seagrass team and the red squirrel team, each bringing their own knowledge and enthusiasm to the group.

It has been a genuine pleasure working with the small groups of adults who attend these courses, each coming for their own reasons and at different points in their mental health journey. To be able to support them and witness the positive steps they take toward improved wellbeing and a more fulfilling lifestyle has been a real privilege. What I did not expect was just how much the experience would affect me too.

Along the way, I have found a renewed love for the world around me. I look at familiar places with new eyes and notice beauty where I might once have passed by without a second thought. I hear sounds of nature that used to be drowned out by the rush of everyday life. Through this work, I have found a greater sense of peace within myself, along with a deeper appreciation for both the natural world and the people around me. I have even discovered a love of photography - although I will admit there is still plenty of room for improvement.

A recent highlight was leading a session of my own. I have a particular interest in bees and the essential role they play in sustaining our ecosystem, so I planned the session to coincide with Bees' Needs Week. I created posters for each participant with practical ideas for how we can all help encourage bees into our gardens and local spaces. We then took a walk along the coastal path, identifying the plants growing there and discussing how bee-friendly they were. To finish, we carried out a timed survey for the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme. I thoroughly enjoyed preparing and delivering this  session. It gave me the chance to use many of the skills I have developed during my time with Cumbria Wildlife Trust, including Canva, photography, planning, and group facilitation. More than that, it reminded me how powerful it can be when learning, wellbeing, and nature all come together in one shared experience.

Volunteering with The Bay has given me much more than practical experience. It has deepened my understanding of how strongly nature and mental wellbeing are connected, strengthened my confidence, and helped me grow both personally and professionally. Most importantly, it has confirmed something I have felt for a long time: that supporting people and helping them reconnect - with themselves, with others, and with the natural world - is something I care deeply about.

Sometimes recovery does not begin in a clinic or a classroom. Sometimes it begins on a coastal path, in an allotment, beside a rockpool, or in the quiet hum of bees at work