There are lots of ways you can enjoy nature, whether you decide to join a group, potter in your outside space or care for a plant on your window ledge.
There are many activities around Leeds and information from across the UK that can help you learn about plants, gardening, caring for nature and lots more.
Helpful links
Cultivating Wellbeing in Gardens and Nature is free to access online resource, run by Thrive, to encourage you to use your garden and spend more time connecting with nature to help with your wellbeing and improve your physical and mental health.
Creative walks packs produced by Leeds Playhouse and Heritage Corner were designed by 7 local artists and can be done anywhere, anytime by anyone. The walks have a focus on mental wellbeing and there is an accessible alternative for each walk designed.
‘Friends of’ groups involve people who voluntarily work to maintain, improve and promote parks and green spaces. You can find a list of groups on the Leeds City Council website or you can contact the parks team at the council about joining or setting up a group: call 0113 378 6002 or email parks@leeds.gov.uk
To Wander is to Adventure is a selection of online resources encouraging you to try mindfulness and meditation outdoors. Created by Purple Patch Arts and Wur Bradford, working with with adults with learning disabilities, they explore creative and mindful ways to walk.
Gardening Club is a free resource delivered by email from Thrive, a national gardening charity that supports people’s physical and mental wellbeing. The weekly email is designed to make gardening accessible and enjoyable for everyone, with easy to follow, simple step-by-step instructions and pictures.
Sense Active Sensory Walks help people with complex disabilities to explore the outdoors and engage more meaningfully with nature. Each of the Ordance Survey walking routes come with accessibility information including key milestones and sensory highlights that are suitable for people with sensory impairments and complex disabilities.
Get Gardening is also run by Thrive and has information about how to carry on gardening for people with health conditiions or disabilities.
BBC Gardeners World magazine podcast – on the health benefits of gardening hears from Monty Don as he shares how gardening has helped his mental and physical wellbeing through good times and bad
Thriving With Nature Mental Health Foundation Guide was created with WWF-UK and has lots information about how nature can help our mental wellbeing and ideas for you to try. You can download it for free.
Forests for Wellbeing is a free booklet created by Forestry England which has information about the benefits of forests to people’s wellbeing and ideas you can try out.
Butterfly Conservation: Gardening and wellness guide is a free guide from Butterfly Conservation with tips on how to grow your own herb garden and make your own mini wildflower meadow and lots more.
Grow Wild is a website with information about and tips for growing wild flowers and fungi, developed by the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. You can also find projects near you and sign up for a free newsletter.
Incredible Edible Network has tips for growing plants for food and helps people connect with groups or set up local groups to create their own community growing areas.
Google Arts and Culture is helpful to search if you want to be inspired by nature from home. You can find tours of natural history museums or national parks around the world or search for artists or creators by name, such as Vincent Van Gogh who was famous for painting sunflowers and night skies. If you don’t know what to look for, just go to the homepage and see what’s there.
YouTube has videos from all over the world you can watch for free, so you can explore mountains, beaches or rainforests to connect with nature. You can search for places in Yorkshire or anywhere you want, or look at different creatures or plants.
RSPB has lots of ideas and tips on their website, including Nature on your doorstep inspiring people to notice nature with seasonal information and ‘how to’ videos. They also have year-round gardening tips and a Wild Challenge for children and families.