It is well documented that being in nature benefits our mental and physical well being, improving mood and reducing stress.

Reducing feelings of stress, frustration, anger and other negative emotions gives a chance to our mental health to get better, this allows for our minds to find ways of improving both physical and mental health. 

A benefit of this is the growth of self confidence, believing that one is capable to make the changes necessary to improve. Our connection with other people and community also plays a role.

This is certainly the experience at Impact Arts Craft Café. We enjoy each other’s company and practice chosen arts and crafts including writing and storytelling.

The author Wendell Berry had an appreciation of nature and writing, he wrote about the wonders and peace that “wild things” bring,

Craft Café enjoyed a Spring outing to the beautiful grounds of Schoenstatt retreat with a guided walk around the trees. We visited a friendly pub/club for food and dancing. This is what we want to achieve at the Shona Foundation, bringing people together and connecting with nature, we are planning for a future trip in the Autumn.

The Shona Foundation is also active with Friends of Elderpark who are currently working on restoring Mrs. Elder’s Rose Garden, the sessions are fun and friendly and we are delighted to have completely restored half of the garden with a variety of colour and wild flowers. The local community had a positive response, some stating that it was “lovely to walk in the garden again”.

Further plans are underway to create wild flower meadows and spring perennial flowers, daffodils and tulips.We hope to continue Guided Mindful Walks in the Elderpark as they were popular, walking under the native trees is restorative and dappled light through the leaves has a calming effect on anxious minds.

All of the above is important as we emerge from the impacts of the pandemic, although we are aware that we are not yet clear of the Coronavirus. We have learned the vitality of being in nature in the last few years and aim to support people in taking part in walks, gardening, countryside trips.

To further support the previous notion, we welcome the involvement of “Recover Through Nature” (RTN), a recovery team that aids people who are in the process of rehabilitation from addictions.

RTN has joined the Rose Garden restoration and also a trip to the spectacular Benmore Botanic Garden alongside the Rose Garden volunteers. We wish to thank Quaker Foundation for enabling this trip. We are happy to say that we are planning another outing in Autumn for a coastal walk!This represents the aims and objectives of the Shona Foundation, to create opportunities to come into nature and restore our physical and mental well being. This is to ease loneliness, grief and rebuild our connections impacted by the restrictions during the public health crisis.

Thanks to the charity “Bikes For Good” some of us are cycling again, their goal is promoting cycling for all ages and abilities which has a positive impact in our fitness and confidence. The Shona Foundation website will continue to post events and photographs in keeping of all activities described above and all encourage all those accessing it online and in person to partake with such activities. We invite all to submit their photographs and reflections for them to be shared on this site.