Poole Harbour

Brownsea Island Shore Rangers

Jake Sculthorp Current Projects, News, Projects all inclusive, brownsea island, coast rangers, dorest wildlife trust, Dorset, economically challenged, education, equal opportunities, kayaking, Mental Health, mental wellbeing, national trust, nature walks, physical health, physical wellbeing, Plastic Pollution, Pollution Survey, Poole Harbour, shore rangers, Single-use Plastics, socially challenged, working together

Brownsea Island Shore Rangers

There are a number of young adults who can’t access the great outdoors. Some face social or economic challenges, some have learning difficulties and simply don’t get the opportunity. We want to help.

Oceans to Earth have partnered with Dorset Wildlife Trust, National Trust and Jurassic Watersports to open up the great outdoors to every young adult.

Shore Rangers is a kayaking conservation group for ages 16 to 25.

Come to Brownsea by boat before kayaking around its shoreline to enjoy a range of practical marine tasks, surveys and coastal / marine workshops.

The rangers mission

Our mission is varied… from coastal wildlife surveys & fun workshops to habitat-based tasks to get the blood pumping! Join an inspiring team & learn new skills with our rangers – all while having fun & making a difference. This is a great way to see what conservation is about and a stepping stone to nature-based careers.

Want to be a shore ranger?

If you’d like to be a Shore Ranger, send an email to jowen@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk and we’ll pop you on the list.

Download our Shore Rangers Guide and see if becoming a ranger is for you.

DOWNLOAD GUIDE HERE

Want to become a supporter of the shore rangers?

This project relies on the generosity of others. Could you help us continue the project for years to come? Send an email to hello@oceanstoearth.com, or you can donate HERE.

Funded By:

Supported by:

Project Partners:

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Brownsea Island Shore Rangers will address key issues including:

accessing the outdoors
equal opportunities
mental health and wellbeing
environmental issues
outdoor education

We believe that for an individual to care deeply for the environment, they first have to love it.

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We Are Looking For Passionate Volunteers

Jake Sculthorp Event, News awareness, climate change, Dorset, eco group, environment, environmental, events, events dorset, funding, fundraising, hiring, Litter Pick, making a difference, Oceans to Earth, opportunities, Plastic Pollution, Poole, Poole Harbour, Raising Awareness, recruitment, volunteers

Turlin Moor community clean, October 2020

We are looking for passionate volunteers

We have 3 great opportunities open to 3 passionate, environmentally conscious volunteers.

As I’m sure you can appreciate, running a community interest company is just like running any other business, but we do it for the love.

This brings about a very different working environment. One that’s fun, caring and creative, one where boundaries can be pushed and lasting friendships can be made with like minded people who really do give a…

If you’d like to be part of something awesome, and have a bit of spare time you can commit to helping your community and the environment, check out the positions we have available below.

Grants and Funding Lead:

⏰ Not contractual, part time

🌱 Not for profit Community Interest Company

👌 Unpaid, voluntary role

🚀 Home based

🌍 Internet access required

📆 As soon as possible

About the role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and well organised individual to search for and prepare applications for vital grants and funding.

Events coordinator:

⏰ Not contractual, part time

🌱 Not for profit Community Interest Company

👌 Unpaid, voluntary role

🚀 Some home based and remote working

🌍 Internet access required

📆 As soon as possible

About the role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and well organised individual to plan and host Oceans to Earth events.

Social Media Coordinator:

⏰ Not contractual, part time

🌱 Not for profit Community Interest Company

👌 Unpaid, voluntary role

🚀 Home based

🌍 Internet access required

📆 As soon as possible

About the role

We are looking for an enthusiastic, organised and social media loving individual to maintain and update our various social media accounts, measure success and liaise with other team members.

The role requires the person to operate from home, hours and days for the role are flexible but posts need to be timely and consistent, using scheduling tools to capture peak engagement times where appropriate.

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (we will cover this cost).

Role expectations

Work with the team to create a social media strategy, helping to build and maintain a strong online presence for Oceans to Earth
Ensure our social media pages are kept up to date with our news, events and website updates
Create and post original and engaging text and image content, ensuring a consistent message is shared with our supporters
Develop an effective posting schedule, using engagement data as a guide
Identify and share relevant content from other groups and external sources
Collect analytics data and report findings to the wider team
Stay up to date with social media changes to ensure maximum effectiveness
Suggest new ways to engage supporters and increase organic reach
Volunteer within Oceans to Earths policies and abide by our volunteer code of conduct

Criteria

Essential

Self-motivated with the confidence to perform tasks independently and efficiently
Great written communication skills and experience in writing content
Experience managing multiple social media accounts, including Facebook and Instagram as a minimum
A sense of creativity and vision
Access to the internet and a suitable device to access it on
An ability to use the internet and social media confidently, able to download, access and upload files
An interest in plastic pollution issues and waste reduction
A belief in Ocean to Earths aims and objectives and a love for the natural environment

Desirable

Really cool superpowers

For more information and how to apply

Send us an email at hello@oceanstoearth.com

If you’d like to apply, please tell us a bit about yourself, your experience and why you think you’re suited to this role.

Or, if you’d prefer to talk to us first, please send over a contact number and best time to call.

Can't wait to hear from you!

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A Really Big Thank You To Parkstone Grammar School!

Jake Sculthorp Event, News awareness, climate change, Dorset, eco group, environment, environmental, events, funding, fundraising, grammar school, Litter Pick, non school uniform, Oceans to Earth, parkstone, parkstone grammar school, Plastic Pollution, Poole, Poole Harbour, Raising Awareness, school

A Really Big Thank You To Parkstone Grammar School!

We want to say a really big thank you to the students at Parkstone Grammar School, for raising a whopping £454.54! We are truly thankful.

Back in June Parkstone Grammar School held a non school uniform day in a bid to raise both awareness, and funds for Oceans to Earth.

We especially want to thank Katie Parry, Lizzie Sturdy and the schools Environmental Action Team.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION TEAM

Dubbed ‘the environmental action team’, a group of students have formed their very own eco group, to raise awareness surrounding the environmental issues we face.

The team host educational talks within the school, perform litter picks and also took part in our recent event, Square Encompassed (in plastic).

They were even brave enough to test out our Bin Boot Camp! A resource designed to help you understand your waste habits, and how you can reduce the amount of waste you produce.

A huge thank you again to you all, you’re genuinely amazing!

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Inside Scoop: Oly Rush, Record Breaker, Awareness Creator – Isle of Wight Swim

Jake Sculthorp Event, News awareness, Clean Jurassic Coast, education, endurance, environment, Nature, Oceans to Earth, open water swim, plastic fight, Plastic Pollution, pollution, Poole Harbour, Raising Awareness, save our seas, say no to single use, swim Isle of Wight, Turn the Tide, Wellbeing

What’s it like to waTCH SOMEONE SWIM AROUND THE Isle of Wight?

By Kester Bailey

7:30 am – swim day.

Today, Oly Rush will attempt to break a Guinness World Record for swimming around the Isle of Wight in under 26 hours – and it’s my job getting him to the marina.

I pick Oly up from his at 7:30, he chucks various dry bags into the boot and jumps in the car. We’re also joined by outdoor sports coach – Craig Dooley, one of Oly’s trainers and now a member of his support team.

Conversation is light and cheerful as we trundle down the A31 in my Nissan Micra. I ask Oly if he’s nervous and he says at this point ‘I just want to get in the water.’

8:55am – Hamble Point Marina

We pull up to the marina not really sure what were looking for, but after driving around for a bit looking lost we find our man…

Scott Dawson was the last person to swim around the island, setting a record of 26 hours back in 2016.

I interviewed Scott a couple weeks ago and spoke to him about the challenges Oly might face on the swim. It became clear that as well as arranging much of the swim, support yacht and navigator he was willing to share all that he had learnt 5 years prior.

As well as resolving logistical challenges, Scott was able understand the mental strain such a swim can have.

But, perhaps the most insightful thing he told me was, ‘you can’t swim the island without a team.’

10am – Seaview Yacht Club

After a brisk ride on the rib from Hamble Point Marina to Seaview Yacht Club on North East side of the island we started to see the crowds gather and things began to feel real.

Up to this point it all felt familiar, as if today was just another training exercise in preparation for the actual swim. But no. Today is the day. You could feel it in the air.

The yacht club begins to fill with sponsors, reporters and spectators, all waiting in quiet dis-belief as a man will shorty walk down the steep slip way, plop himself into the water and stay there for what turned out to be just over 15 hours.

But before he does, I take a minute to observe to scene in front of me. It’s busy and exciting. I search for Oly in the mass of people and find him giving an interview to a reporter or it could’ve been a sponsor. It’s hard to tell.

He talks about why he’s taking on the challenge. How his love for the sea, animals and nature is what drives him. How he hopes by pushing himself to the unknown limits of his capabilities he can generate interest on a subject he cares about deeply.

The ‘why?’ is what this is all about. It presents an opportunity to talk about an important issue. The issue of habitat loss, pollution and the role of plastic consumption in our society.

Oly knows the significance of the swim and a world record attempt. It’s the sort of event that sponsors and news agencies love and it creates a platform from which he can spread awareness on the issue at hand.

Furthermore, this swim will be raising money for charities and community interest companies tackling the plastic problem, including; Clean Jurrasic Coast, Turn The Tide Cornwall and us.

11am – Start the stop watch

Oly walks down the slip way, raises his arms and turns to the 100 or so people gathered around him. They cheer as he gets into the water.

Their is one last fist pump from Oly as he turns, puts one arm in front of the other, dips his head into the water and is away.

19:52 – Approaching Bembridge

The sun is setting as we see Bembridge life boat station come into view. 9 hours in and it’s looking like Oly will beat the current record if all continues as planned.

Since departing Seaview, we’ve passed through Ryde, Cowes, Yarmouth, Niton, Ventnor, Shanklin and Sandown. Along the way Brian Thompson has captained the Yacht – an experienced veteran in the sailing world and the man with the plan when it comes to tidal planning. A key component of Oly’s success.

Roy Beal – founder of Clean Jurrasic Coast and Oly’s right hand man/navigator, has kayaked thus far the entire distance that Oly has swim and continues to do so until it’s completion. He is also joined by friends of Oly who kayak alongside offering unwavering support and motivation.

Between the yacht and the kayakers Scott bounces about on the rib, relaying information and supplies as he goes.

A well oiled machine springs to mind.

12:15 – finishing line in sight

Roughly 13 hours at sea was starting to take its toll and I can’t talk for Oly – but I was starting to get tired. Not even coffee was helping.

Needing waking up I precariously climbed off the yacht and onto the rib in search of some excitement. We shot off into the darkness to find Oly and the support kayakers, knowing they would be approaching an area of strong tidal currents.

The only light at this point was that offered by the gracious moon, beaming contently looking quite full, and the occasional blink of a lighthouse in the distance, perched on a rocky out cropping.

The tidal planning was correct and as the rib rocked somewhat violently, for the first time during the day I was aware we we’re at the mercy of mother nature. You only had to find the horizon and witness what looked like a wall of water rising in the distance to tell that we were in for a rough ride.

Scott relayed this information to Roy on the kayak who took action and guided Oly confidently through the tumultuous patch water, safety to the other side.

around 2am – finish

What a feeling coming into Seaview. In the darkness of the night all you could see what the little lights of the houses looking out onto the water. The cumulative point of the experiences made even sweeter by the faint whoops and cheers from the shore line, as some hardy souls stood doggedly determined to see Oly walk up the slip way he had descended only 15 hours earlier.

The water was choppy and I watched as the kayaks struggled to dock on dry land, Oly however kept going. He finds his footing and for the first time since that morning stands up on two feet looking victorious but somewhat oblivious to what he has just accomplished.

Kayakers now on land, people are gathered, family and friends. Oly hugs his mum as the camera crews and reporters bustle and tussle for a sound bite. A young lad hands Oly a beer – maybe not the best post 15 hour swim supplement, but well deserved I think.

As the crowds dissipate and a quietness engulfs the slip way, there is a lovely sense of calm. A feeling of job well done. I say goodnight to Oly and Tess – his supportive partner, and make my way to the rib so I can catch a ride back to the yacht.

Skimming across the water feeling tired but happy. I can’t help but think this is what it’s all about. People working together for a cause greater than themselves, getting high off a feeling of adventure and helping to educate our fellow humans in the best possible way, leading by example. Money was raised and awareness was spread.

Thank you Oly for conceiving this adventure and letting me be apart of it. I’m sure I can speak for everyone in saying this was an experience I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

Inspired?! Message us HERE to find out when our next beach clean is.

Don’t worry you can still donate! Just use this easy link

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Worbarrow Bay, Beach Cleans & AimHi

Worbarrow Bay beach clean with AIMHI

By Kester Bailey

still Half asleep but excited

Around 10:30am on a slightly grey Sunday morning in Tyneham, a number of people begin to arrive in the carpark near the crumbled buildings of the now abandoned seaside village.

Although still half asleep I’m looking forward to what the day has in store, because today is the day of the Oceans to Earth x AimHi beach clean of Worbarrow Bay.

Aimhi?

For those who aren’t familiar with AimHi yet here’s a quick run down:

AimHi is the nature-first, curiosity-powered online school on a mission to make world-class live learning accessible to everyone.

You only have to check out the names of some of their guests to understand that these guys know what they’re talking about, featuring; Jane Goodall, Chris Packham, George Monbiot, Jo Jo Metha and Sam Lee.

Producing original and interesting content, AimHi try to provoke curiosity and a desire for discovery in as many people as possible, empower critical thinking, to act on the basis of evidence, and to be wiser and kinder stewards of our biosphere and communities.

AimHi take a progressive approach to e-learning, unafraid to confront big questions that will inevitably need answering in the not so distant future. They provide educational courses and content exploring questions of; carbon, tipping points, simple solutions, soil and the future of food, as well as population, pollution and finding a balance. Asking ‘How do we fix this? Making the impossible possible.’

(All of the above is covered in their ‘Climate and Nature Course’ which is returning September 2021)

Anyway, back to the beach clean

After all the introductions – of which there were many – we grabbed our bags and litter pickers and began the 15 minute walk from the carpark down to Worbarrow Bay.

People chatted and continued to get to know each other, talking about interests, work and backgrounds. Maybe it’s the fact that we’ve all been stuck inside for so long with little to no social interaction but it was a welcome change to chat openly with a mix of new and like-minded people. Something I’ve definitely missed.

Calm before the storm (clean)

Reaching the top of the bay we stopped for a quick safety brief before being unleashed onto the unsuspecting rubbish below, clearly quivering with fear at the thought of being properly disposed.

Both the AimHi, Oceans to earth team and volunteers rolled out onto the beach with litter pickers gripped between their teeth looking to get stuck in. It was a sight to behold and one I hope to get used to with so many out in force for the reason of removing pervasive litter and waste. It’s empowering to see strangers unite.

What’s the point?

But then, and it’s clear to see that this isn’t just about removing litter and waster from a beach, it’s much more than that. It’s about fulfilling basic human needs of socialising, exercising and learning.

People chatted and new friendships were forged, facilitated by the fact that everyone present has a common interest in nature and could unite over a common cause in the protection of it. Not to mention the location in which we found ourselves. It’s hard to be moody when you’re surrounded by such tranquil settings.

There was a definite air of curiosity about the day, people from a variety of employment and industry backgrounds shared their insights as everyone present was open to hearing what the next person had to say. I heard conversations about nurdles, fossils and the different types of plant found in the UK from which a fibrous type of rope can be produced. There are apparently 3.

And let me just say, for all the fun and enjoyment taken from the day, it is no walk in park combing a large section of shingled beach back and forth and then having to transport any waste found back to a designated removal point. Anyone looking to get their steps up should definitely come along to the next one!

Time to head back

Feeling sufficiently tired after hours of chasing down fly away crisp packets, collecting microscopic nurdles and cutting away rope and fishing wire trapped by immovable rocks* (*boulders). It was time once again to scale the path leading back to the carpark, except this time lugging bags of rubbish and walking up a marginally inclined gradient (inclined none the less). Feeling tired but fulfilled we reached the carpark, disposed of our rubbish and set down for a well earned lunch on a wonderfully placed garden bench – just beneath the trees.

Despite a perfect day there was an un-easy silence as the lunch spread was laid out upon hungry eyes, however I think this was more to do with a genuine excitement at the meal to come rather than any ill feeling.

And what a meal it was! I could think of no better way than to end the day with a spread of veg, breads, dips, sweet treats and cheese and marmite pin rolls (yes that is a thing – email for recipe).

Goodbye for now…

After eating we capped the day off with a group photo and after some long farewells we said good bye to one another and departed – promising this would be the first of many.

So that my friends is how the Oceans to Earth x AimHi beach clean went. What we did that day probably won’t reverberate around the world and induce mass social and environmental change but in the little pocket of land down on Worbarrow Bay, just off Tyneham you could really feel the love. Which as I would argue is one of the most powerful and transformative forces of all.

Interested in what AimHi offer? Click here for the full range of services!

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Swim Isle of Wight

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Swim Isle of Wight Plastic Fight

Oly is going for a world record attempt, and swimming 65 miles around the Isle of Wight, non stop in under 26 hours!

In a bid to raise awareness surrounding plastic pollution, Oly will be taking on this mammoth challenge this August!

A bit of background

Oly is hugely passionate about the environment. He is also part fish!

When he’s not plastering he works hard clearing our beaches, and training for big swims just like this one.

Last September he successfully swam the 96 miles (and some) length that makes up the Jurassic Coast, to raise awareness surrounding plastic pollution.

This challenge will take another level of preparation though, as he’s going for a world record attempt, and his swim will be non stop.

Find out more

If you want to find out more about the swim, CLICK HERE

Oly will not only be raising awareness, he will also be raising funds for us at Oceans to Earth, and for Clean Jurassic Coast and Turn The Tide, two awesome organisations on a mission to keep our coastlines litter free!

If you’d like to make a donation CLICK HERE

#swimIOW

#swimIOWplasticfight

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Coleman Marine Insurance Support Efforts To Clean Poole Harbour

Jake Sculthorp Event, News awareness, boat, charity, climate change, coleman's marine insurance, donation, Dorset, education, environment, gallagher group, insurance, litter picking, marine, Oceans to Earth, Plastic Pollution, Poole, Poole Harbour, Raising Awareness

Coleman Marine Insurance support clean up of poole harbour.

Coleman’s charitable donation to Oceans to Earth will allow us to continue our efforts to keep Poole Harbour litter free.

We owe a massive thanks to Coleman Marine Insurance for their amazing donation to the cause!

Coleman Marine Insurance have kindly, for the second year, insured our boats Polly Esther, and Polly Ethel.

This will allow us to continue cleaning those hard to get to spots around the second largest natural harbour in the world, Poole Harbour.

“Coleman Marine Insurance, A Gallagher Company, is pleased to support Oceans to Earth and the fantastic work that they to do to drive positive environmental change in our local community and across the UK.”
Steve Risk, Managing Director

How we use our boats

Poole Harbour covers 36 km², and a large portion of the harbour cannot be accessed on foot. This means a lot of the litter that gets washed up has gone unnoticed for decades. At least the litter that doesn’t end up back in the ocean!

This of course poses a huge threat to wildlife, but we are doing our best to ensure it doesn’t get to that point!

Coleman Marine Insurance is part of the Gallagher Group which is committed to ethical business practices and supporting communities through our charitable programmes.

Gallagher was recently named for the 10th consecutive year as one of the world’s most ethical companies by Ethisphere, and is the only insurance broker to be named as one of the 2021 World’s Most Ethical Companies.

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How To Organise A Litter Pick

Jake Sculthorp Event, News awareness, Beach Clean, Dorset, environment, Litter Pick, Mental Health, Nature, Oceans to Earth, Plastic Pollution, Poole Harbour, Single-use Plastics, Turlin Moor Community Clean, Wellbeing, working together

How to organise a litter pick get organised, stay safe and dispose properly

So you want to organise a litter pick huh? But you’re not sure where to start? Well we’ve done a few in our time and think we’re pretty good at them, so good in fact that we’ve put together these top tips to get you started on your own.

Litter picks and beach cleans are a great way to spend your free time, it combines the mental and physical benefits of exercise, socialising and the feeling of contributing to something bigger than yourself – the community.

It’s also a really good way to spread awareness of issues. People see us cleaning an area of beach or bay and stop to ask what we are doing, this opens up a conversation that other wise would not have happened. Nothing is quiet as powerful in convincing as showing someone with their own eyes the evidence of pollution. They may even offer to lend a hand or ask when the next clean will be. The influence of community action is powerful and is something we need to utilise for change to happen.

So without further adieu, here are our tips for organising your own litter pick!

get organised

You need a way of organising your litter pick and there are a few ways you can do this.
Create a Facebook group. When we host our community cleans we create events and post them to our Oceans To Earth and Plastic Free Poole group, this gets the word out.
Create a group chat. If you want to keep things private why not use WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger to start a group chat of litter picking enthusiasts. This way is more like having a group of mates who you meet up with from time to time… except you collect litter and waste (and probably go for a drink after)
Once your Facebook or group chat has been set up it’s time to set a date, time and location that everyone is happy with. Take care when deciding the location of your beach clean, ensuring it’s easily accessible and safe to clean.
Have a meet up location. Set a time and place to meet so everyone can walk to the litter pick location together.

Health & safety

If you are a registered charity or business and you want to organise a litter pick under that then you must have insurance to do so, it’s vital you consider and check this before organising anything or you may be liable.
However if you are providing a date and time where you will be at a location for the purpose of a litter pick and by chance others are present as well, well that’s just coincidence! But there are still some steps you should take to ensure your own safety.
Wear hi-vis clothing, this allows you to identify other litter pickers and makes you visible in poor conditions
Bring a litter picker, you want to avoid picking up rubbish with your hands, this prevents exposure to nasty chemicals or germs and reduces the risk of cuts.
Wear gloves, this again prevents exposure to germs, chemicals and sharp objects
Take food and water, keep yourself well nourished and watered. You’re expending more energy than you realise when litter picking and nourishment will keep you alert to any other potential risks such as bad weather or rising tides.

disposal

We’ve actually already covered our 6 tips for waste removal so click BELOW for the final steps in organising your own litter pick

CLICK TO CONTINUE BLOG

6 TIPS ON HOW TO DISPOSE OF BEACH WASTE

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Turlin Moor Community Clean

Rosie Bailey Event, News Litter Pick, Oceans to Earth, Plastic Pollution, Poole Harbour, Recycling, Turlin Moor, Turlin Moor Community Clean

Turlin Moor Community Cleans are back in Business!

As things are now settling down, we’re hugely excited that the Turlin Moor Community Cleans are back!

With lockdown rules in full swing, we haven’t been able to host or get involved in any group clean up events for a few months now. We’ve been out in a small group and picked up plenty of litter on walks, but it’s really not the same as the wonderful feeling of achievement you get as a bigger team. And more importantly the sense of accomplishment and wellbeing from doing it as a community.

This is why, we are so pleased that the monthly community cleans in Turlin Moor with Reconnect and Friends of Hamworthy Park can finally restart!

The cleans will be kicking off again from 11am, first Sunday of every month from the beginning of May. The first clean will be focusing on the shoreline and area around Lytchett Bay.

THE HEALTH AND SAFETY BIT…

Litter picking equipment will be provided. This includes clean gloves, bags, bag holders and litter pickers. If you have your own though, please bring along. We also ask that you wear sensible footwear, and bring your own drink (in a reusable bottle). We are unfortunately still unable to provide refreshments at present.

For now, the maximum group size of six will still apply. So while we welcome anyone that wants to get involved, we ask that during the clean-up, you stick to working within your same team of six of or less.

We are not advocating the wearing of face masks, as from past experience, we know that face coverings often encourage people to touch their faces more. However, this decision is entirely up to you.

11AM, SUNDAY 2ND MAY

BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!

Visit our Facebook page for further news on community cleans in Turlin Moor

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Mental Health and Nature – The Science

Jake Sculthorp Event, News Bournemouth University, Dorset, GoPladdle, Mental Health, Nature, Oceans to Earth, Plastic Pollution, Poole Harbour, Wellbeing

Mental health and nature – the science

Dr. William Bird. MBE talks about the connection between us and nature.

With the world changing so quickly right now, many of us are feeling a bit overwhelmed. However, one thing we can still access is the natural world. Nature can provide us with everything we need. From our food, to natural antibiotics that boost our immune system, and above all, somewhere to seek solace. Dr. Bird guides us through why it is so important for us to maintain a deep connection with nature, and how it can help us all on a very deep level… There’s a science to all this, it’s not just a fluffy idea!

Bournemouth University’s ‘nature health network’ hosts a talk with Dr. William Bird. MBE, outlining the importance of nature and how it links to our own personal wellbeing.

At the beiginning of the year we were invited to join Bournemouth University’s Nature Health Network. The network comprises of a whole mixing pot of professionals, with one common goal, to connect people with nature. Project partners include Natural Health England and New Forest National Park.

Last month the Nature Health Network hosted an amazing talk with guest speaker Dr. William Bird. MBE. The talk made us feel extremely inspired, and so we wanted to share it with you.

Who is Dr. Bird?

William Bird MBE is a General Practitioner who has set up schemes to encourage people in the United Kingdom to exercise in order to promote good health. He was awarded an MBE for his contributions to health and physical activity in the Queen’s New Year Honours 2010. In 2009 he was nominated by the Independent of Sunday as one of the 100 people to make people happy in Britain. So he knows his stuff!

Dr. Bird hosts this 30 minute video describing the relationship between nature and our mental, and physical wellbeing. Starting with the absolute basics, see how you can implement changes in your life that are scientifically proven to benefit.

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