National Lottery Heritage Fund
Wild Health
About our Wild Health Programme
We work in partnership with a diverse range of organisations across Gwent and nationally, enabling greater participation in action for local wildlife and climate change. Focussing on people with specific health conditions, we help them improve their health and wellbeing, discover, learn and share their knowledge and skills with others. Together, we share our learnings to advocate for equal access to nature and nature-based solutions to health and wellbeing.
Our experienced delivery officers run regular workdays and recreational activities at nature reserves, in local green spaces and in Gwent's wild places. These aim to improve and highlight health and wellbeing benefits from being in the natural world. As well as the environmental and therapeutic benefits, the programme also delivers social value impacts, supporting people to improve their confidence, self esteem, social isolation and employability.
Benefits of our Approach
Our delivery approach promotes inclusivity, provides long-term support and wider benefits of access to nature.
We follow the 5 Ways to Wellbeing: an evidence-based set of mental health steps promoted by public health organizations across Wales. They include Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, and Give.
Who we work with:
Our current partners include: MBS, Mind Monmouthshire, Early Intervention Service, Coleg Gwent, Social Inclusion, Mind in Gwent, NHS Community Mental Health Teams, Hybrids, Ein Llais, Dicky Tickers, and Elysium Healthcare.
Through Wild Health, Gwent Wildlife Trust has been working with mental health and local delivery groups for over ten years, such as; Adferiad and Platfform, Mind Monmouthshire, Ty Gwyn, Rewild Families, Goldtops, Early Intervention Service, Girls Aloud, Newport People First, Blaenau Gwent / RCT People First, Coleg Gwent, Integrated Autism Service, Aderyn, Bridges Monmouth and GP referral group.
Wild Health Impact
Wild Health is delivering environmental, social and economic impacts.
- Increasing levels of community participation in nature conservation and recreation
- People with mental and physical health problems are attending sessions report improved wellbeing
- Communities are building their understanding and appreciation of wildlife
- Wild Health is increasing collaboration and partnership working with organisations across Gwent
The things I have learned with Ian and the people that I have met in the sessions have calmed me. No longer am I walking through an area in nature and just being stuck within my mind, now I’m stopping to look at the nature around me, the wildflower, the insects, the trees and every aspect around them.Wild Health Project participant
Wild Health Impact 2025 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYlA9u56MnY&t=5s)
This video was created by a Wild Health participant, Andrew, in collaboration with the Gwent Wildlife Trust team.
This video was created by a Wild Health participant, Andrew, in collaboration with the Gwent Wildlife Trust Team. Hear from participants and partners of the Wild Health project about how it is helping to connect people with nature and enjoy quality time outdoors.
Wild Health - Our Impact
- Wild Health Impact Report 2019-2021 (2.17 MB)
Funding partners
Wild Health is currently supported by the Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations (G.A.V.O) and Torfaen Regional Integration Fund.
We are also delighted to be a partner in Nature: Connections and Recovery - a UK‑wide programme led by the Eden Project, supporting people and communities to reconnect with nature to take climate‑positive action and improve wellbeing.
Thanks to National Lottery players, the programme is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, and planned in partnership with Wildlife Trusts, Intelligent Health, and the Ashken Family Foundation.
Wild Health was developed and piloted during 2017 across Gwent, with support from the Co-Operative fund, and went from strength to strength. The current project continues to build on the pilot, offering recreational, social and work based outdoor opportunities for people who may benefit physically and emotionally from nature based activities.
Wild Health was funded by the players of the National Lottery through the National Lottery Community Fund from 2022 to 2025. It was previously funded through the Integrated Care Fund via Welsh Government.
Get involved
If you would like to support Wild Health as a funding or Social Value partner, or take part as an individual or with your community group, please get in contact through the form below or by emailing ithomas@gwentwildlife.org or rohagan@gwentwildlife.org