A new wellbeing programme of relaxed and friendly group workshops for men.
Take a break from the everyday and support your wellbeing through creativity and connection to nature
These men only sessions will be exploring our relationship with nature and how nature-based mindfulness can resource us. Activities will include exploring creativity through crafts & art-making, sharing a hot drink by a fire and enjoying companionable time in nature.
Where to find us:
The DHI Garden, 130 Tower Road North, Warmley, BS30 8XN
Sessions are free, all materials and refreshments provided.
Taking Creativity Outdoors: The Story of creativeNature
There is strong and growing evidence that nature-based social prescribing plays an important role in improving mental and physical health and reducing loneliness. When combined with arts on referral, participants benefit from both creative engagement and connection with nature.
We were recently invited by one of our funding partners, The Baring Foundation, to contribute to a case study for a new publication on outdoor arts for people with mental health problems. This will form part of the foundation’s growing body of Creatively Minded reports.
Drawing on our experience, the study focuses on one of our outdoor groups, creativeNature, which was funded by The Baring Foundation. Here we explore how the group developed, its aims and structure, and the impact it has had on its first cohort of participants.
A new approach to male participation and engagement
creativeNature has its roots in a pilot project we were involved in in 2021 called Art in Nature. Designed with the primary aim of engaging more men in creative activities to support their wellbeing, it laid the groundwork for creativeNature, which was launched in 2024.
Our data shows that nearly 90% of participants in our programmes are women. CreativeNature sought to build on the findings of the pilot, which demonstrated that offering art workshops in nature resulted in significantly higher male engagement (75%) compared to our arts-only programmes (14%).
We initially worked with Nick Hudson, a locally based ecologist, naturalist and nature-based practitioner with over 20 years’ experience, to lead the programme and establish its key principles. These included ensuring the group was shaped by participant interest and that it created a safe, male-focused space tailored to individual needs and abilities.
With six-week terms, we identified several key outcomes for participants:
- Increased cultural engagement
- Increased confidence and independence
- Improved communication and self-expression
- Reduced isolation
- Openness to continued engagement with arts and nature
Focusing on the priority area of Kingswood, creativeNature launched in 2024 in a tranquil, accessible green space. At the beginning of 2025, Sam Baum, a graphic designer and musician with experience of working with vulnerable groups, took over as lead facilitator.
Holding space
Creating a safe and supportive environment has been central to creativeNature. Sessions take place around a fire, with a warm, nourishing drink always available. The fire acts as an anchor—something participants can return to throughout the session—providing a calm focal point for both quiet reflection and shared connection.
Sessions begin with grounding exercises, encouraging participants to notice their surroundings and engage their senses: the crackle of the fire, birdsong, damp leaves, and seasonal changes in the landscape.
A gentle check-in follows, offering participants the opportunity to share how they are feeling, without pressure or judgement. Tools such as handmade talking sticks help create a respectful space for listening and speaking. Some participants share openly, others say very little, but for many this becomes a vital outlet for honest self-expression and a chance to feel seen and heard.
Creativity grounded in mindfulness
Throughout the programme, participants explore a range of creative activities, including willow weaving, sculpting, printmaking, bookbinding, stitching, mark-making, and photography.
Activities are rooted in mindfulness. In one session, participants were invited to “draw” sound—starting with a single dot on a page and using charcoal to respond to what they could hear. Birdsong became flowing lines, while the distant hum of a plane translated into scratches and marks.
Ritual and process also play an important role. Participants work together to create herbal teas and natural inks from spices and vegetables, following simple, structured steps. This provides both a tangible outcome and an absorbing process that can gently distract from physical or mental challenges.
Each session follows a consistent and reassuring rhythm: grounding, check-in, shared drinks, creative activity, and a closing check-out. Participants leave feeling connected, supported, and better prepared to return to daily life.
Training new creativeNature facilitators
Alongside supporting participants, creativeNature also aims to develop new male facilitators in arts on referral practice. This helps ensure that programmes like creativeNature can continue to grow and reach more people.
The project has created training opportunities for emerging practitioners, who shadow the lead facilitator while completing modules in safeguarding, group dynamics, and the wider social prescribing landscape. Trainees are also supported through clinical supervision.
The impact of creativeNature
To date, creativeNature has delivered 36 two-hour sessions, supporting participants to engage in a creative health journey at their own pace over an 18-week period.
At its heart, the programme brings people together through shared creative experiences in nature. Participants are encouraged to co-create, develop skills, have fun, and produce meaningful artworks to take home.
A dedicated nature-based practitioner meets participants where they are, nurturing individual interests, abilities, and confidence. Participants are also signposted to ongoing opportunities, helping to embed a key creativeShift principle: that the arts can be part of everyday life.
Participants say:
“When I go to the group, it sets me up for the rest of the day.
This programme's been amazing—I hope it doesn't stop.”
“I never thought I’d be out in nature,
relaxing and just enjoying the outdoors
—stuff I did when I was a kid.”
“My partner thinks I’m in a better mood when I get home.
I’m happier, more in tune, more active, and more relaxed
than I would normally be.”
“I learned so much from working with Nick. His experience in managing individuals with different needs was inspiring. His ability to subtly steer conversations back on track and most of all his empathy and calm approach were most valuable…his approach to nature-based wellbeing with a creative slant was a good balance”
The experience has also been meaningful for facilitators. As Sam Baum reflects:
“Every participant has said how much they value the sessions and how much they look forward to them. creativeNature has shown that men need spaces like this—places where they can talk, listen, create, and spend time outdoors together.
It’s a place where they can connect with the elements, with nature, and with each other. creativeNature has been a small group, but the ripples from it have been wide. For those who have taken part, it has been something special—a place to arrive, to breathe, to make things with their hands, and to remember that they are not alone.”
