Volunteering – One Way to Improved Wellbeing in the New Forest

Learning new skills, meeting new people, and giving back to the community and environment around you are just some of the benefits commonly linked to volunteering. The positives go far beyond this, however, as the New Forest’s National Park NHS Fellows have already highlighted during their time in the Forest.

In fact, volunteering, as an activity, goes hand-in-hand with the core principles of Green Social Prescribing – ‘a practice that connects people with nature-based activities’, as they summarise it – and is just one way people can help to improve their own mental and physical wellbeing.

Health professionals speak about their experiences volunteering

National Park wellbeing fellows Jennifer Wyllie and Laura Pridmore have been able to share in some of the benefits of volunteering first-hand thanks to invites to ‘special’ and ‘fascinating’ experiences at Pennington Community Allotment, the New Forest Heritage Centre, and Pondhead Conservation Trust, among others.

‘Our first encounter with volunteering in the New Forest was with the fantastic PEDALL New Forest Inclusive Cycling’, Jennifer said. ‘We were lucky to join a ride with a group of individuals with dementia and their carers.

‘Seeing the joy on people’s faces and the interaction was really special. From speaking to the volunteers who PEDALL rely on, we could see the pride and benefits to their wellbeing and self-confidence from being involved in the project.

‘There are five key elements that contribute to mental wellbeing. To “give” is one of those.’

‘We also went along to Pondhead Conservation Trust where we spent a morning with volunteers who were coppicing a section of hazel. We were given a tour and shown where they make charcoal in the summer, as well as having a demonstration of how to make a stake hedge, which we spent time doing with another volunteer.

‘The morning was enjoyable and there was a mixture of volunteers – old and young, different genders, and from different backgrounds – all with a shared passion for conservation and working in nature. It was great to learn a new skill and it was good to see the hedge we created in just a short time.

‘On a personal level, it felt good to do something physical and to be active too. It was nice to have some time in a busy working week to pause and focus on the task in hand while in the beautiful scenery of the New Forest.’

‘We could see the pride and the benefits to their wellbeing.’

Speaking about another volunteering experience – this time at Pennington Community Allotment – Jennifer said: ‘The group we met there was really welcoming and we got to sit together to enjoy a brew and a natter.

‘I think for me, something that really stood out that day was the fact no previous experience was necessary, and that at any one time there could be several tasks you could do, so there was always variety.

‘I can genuinely say that after spending time at the allotment in the fresh air, I slept better that night and felt more relaxed.

‘That tangible feeling of improved wellbeing is a target for Green Social Prescribing and is why we’re keen for the group to be on the Green Health Hub, so others can find out more and go along.’

Laura emphasised the ways volunteering can help a person’s health, as well as the community around them. She said: ‘Evidence shows there are five key elements that contribute to mental wellbeing. To “give” is one of those, because helping others can create positive feelings.

‘Voluntary roles in nature can also harness other aspects of the five ways to wellbeing. This includes to “connect” if the session is a group activity, to “be active” if it involves a physical activity, and to “keep learning” if a new skill is learned – like for us when we did fence building at Pondhead Conservation Trust.

‘The key objective of Green Social Prescribing is to improve mental wellbeing, and therefore improve resilience to cope with life stressors. This in turn reduces the demand on NHS mental health services.’

‘That tangible feeling of improved wellbeing is a target for Green Social Prescribing.’

After being welcomed to events at Wilverley Plain and Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve, Laura said: ‘We also had the opportunity to go along to two healthy walks led by Community First – which happen in the New Forest area – and spent time talking to the volunteers, without whom the sessions wouldn’t run.

‘The groups provide vital backing for members, who may need support during periods of mental or physical illness, bereavement, or loneliness. [The walks] are also a great opportunity to get some steps in as the routes are between an hour and an hour-and-a-half long.

‘They give an ideal setting to connect to others who can enjoy a side-by-side chat, and after the sessions the groups meet in a local café or pub where they can continue conversations.’

The New Forest National Park Authority is working with National Park Fellows Jennifer and Laura alongside Hampshire County Council to explore the health benefits of the Forest and its surrounding areas.