A place to get active
In the words of our visitors
- Nice activities, nice fire, seasonal related.
- Woodland Family Group Homeschoolers
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Spring to Life
Spring to Life is our flagship mental health recovery project for young people suffering mental health trauma.
Spring to Life is a project directed at young people who have experienced some form of mental health distress or may be having a tough time of it at home, work, school or socially. They may be carers or have direct personal experience and the project identifies the recovery potential that positive time spent outdoors can have. The project draws on the stunning natural environment of Sharpham and the approach adopted by the staff team
Programmes last up to 10 weeks, with two groups attending day programmes once per week. The project progresses participants at their own pace through a programme of activities on the Sharpham Estate that improves their physical and mental health while supporting environmental conservation. Programmes are designed in consultation with a mental health specialist and the young people themselves, and delivered in part by volunteer mentors with experience of mental distress themselves.
The Sharpham Estate is 550 acres of woodlands, rivers, gardens, farmland and built heritage, offering an broad range of environmental activities including: conservation projects (e.g. tree planting, wildlife habitat enhancement), site management (creative sign work, woodland arts), woodland crafts (stool making, wood carving), willow weaving (basketry, sculptures), bush craft and survival skills (fire, shelter building, wild food cookery), outdoor sports (canoeing, fishing, orienteering), horticulture (organic gardening, orchard management), agriculture (dairy, viticulture), health and well-being workshops (mindfulness, yoga), team-building and trust development.
Outcomes of the project are profound (link to case studies), making life enhancing change to young people’s lives.
Young people are referred to us via many varied routes and we are developing ways of continuing the project once project funding runs out.
