Wellbeing

“It’s de-stressing, you are in a different world… it’s heaven… a wonderful place to be” – Derek Thom, life-long plot holder

Five Ways To Wellbeing

Boundary Way Allotments & Community Garden has a positive impact on the wellbeing of plot holders and visitors alike. Activities on site support the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’, an evidence-based approach that helps people to flourish. Devised by the New Economics Foundation in 2008, building opportunities for these ways as part of daily routine helps to build resilience and improve the ability to deal with life stress. The ways are as follows:

An evidence based approach

  • Connect - Our allotment community connects with each other to support and help each other.
  • Keep Learning – From teaching each other about growing, to the educational activities run by groups across the site, we are constantly learning at Boundary Way.
  • Be Active - Exploring our site and taking part in gardening gives an opportunity for gentle exercise.
  • Give - Cooking and sharing allotment grown food is a wonderful way of connecting with others, enjoying the outdoors and learning about different cultural traditions.
  • Take Notice - Boundary Way is a place to relax, notice and be curious about the natural world around you.

Useful Resources

NHS
Every Mind Matters

World Wildlife Fund:
5 Ways To Connect With Nature to Help Our Wellbeing

Mind: Nature & Mental Health. Ideas to Try in Nature

Wellbeing Groups at Boundary Way

Find out how groups based at Boundary Way Allotments & Community Garden are using the allotment as a resource to work to improve wellbeing.

Pathways to Nature Connection

‘Pathways to Nature Connection’ is a new way of looking at how we connect with the natural world that has been developed by Professor Miles Richardson at Derby University. It emphasizes that exploring the natural world creatively can increase our feelings of connectedness to it.

This may include sensory exploration through listening to sounds, investigating texture or focusing on colour. As well as capturing and celebrating nature through drawing, painting photography, film, theatre or dance. You can find out more about this theory here

You can also find out more about the ongoing evidence-based research at Derby University via Miles Richardson’s blog here

Our pathways are:

  • Senses - tuning in to nature through the senses
  • Emotion - feeling alive through the emotions and feelings nature brings
  • Beauty - noticing nature’s beauty
  • Give - Cooking and sharing allotment grown food is a wonderful way of connecting with others, enjoying the outdoors and learning about different cultural traditions.
  • Meaning - nature bringing meaning to our lives
  • Compassion - caring and taking action for nature