Quality Assurance Certificate

Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, Mindful-In-Nature is a Sharpham programme specifically designed to support mental health recovery, resilience and well-being for people aged 18+ living locally, by offering a unique combination of mindfulness and nature connection.

It will give you an introduction to the Mindful-In-Nature approach and the chance to spend some time outdoors in a beautiful setting.

The half-day is a taster for the Mindful-In-Nature 8-week course. 

The taster runs from 12.30am - 3.30pm and will take place in our woodland in the grounds of Sharpham House. The woodland site offers an outdoor kitchen, toilets and a covered fire shelter for wet and cold weather conditions.

A limited free transport service running from Torbay to Totnes and Sharpham will be provided (details will be sent to you once you have booked).

This course is for you if you identify with all of the below:

• Have lived personal experience of mental health difficulties or challenges such as depression or anxiety
• Are aged 18 or above
• Living locally (South Devon)
• Would like a safe and gentle introduction to mindfulness and nature connection practices and to find out more about the 8-week course
• Would like to spend some time outdoors in a beautiful location, surrounded by nature in a supportive setting
• Are curious to learn how the practice of mindfulness and nature connection can support your overall sense of well-being

What you will learn

• A chance to find out more about the Mindful-In-Nature 8-week course and whether this course is suitable for you
• A safe and accessible introduction to the Mindful-In-Nature appropach. Activities will include an introduction to meditation, some simple mindfulness and nature connection practices such as awakening our senses in the outdoors and working with nature as a mirror to our thoughts and feelings
• An introduction to skills to help you be steadier with whatever is happening, without resisting it or judging it as good or bad

Your physical and mental health

The Mindful-In-Nature courses are not intended as an alternative to clinical treatment and we offer our courses as an aid to recovery, wellbeing and helping to prevent relapse. We recommend that participants are in a relatively stable period of mental well-being in order to get the most out of the course. The course might not be suitable for you if you are currently experiencing a major depression or other diagnosed psychiatric illness such as psychosis or current self-harming. 

Parts of the woodland where activities take place are on uneven ground and the day will include some walking in and around the site. Please contact us if you have physical health or mobility difficulties to make sure we can best accommodate your needs.

To apply for the course, please click 'Book Online' below when applications are open. This will take you to a confidential form where we will ask you some questions about your physical and mental health. You will then receive a call from our Programme Co-ordinator to discuss your application to ensure we can best accommodate your needs. Your booking is not confirmed until you have spoken with our Programme Co-ordinator.