On a gloriously sunny Thursday 15th June, Cardiff & Vale Health Charity with partners Down To Earth celebrated two and a half years of exciting progress at Our Health Meadow.
The People, Nature and Impact conference saw a day of workshops and discussions about patient experiences, staff engagement, and how the local community have helped to develop Our Health Meadow as it currently stands.
As part of the welcome speeches, attendees heard from Lynne Neagle MS, Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing who praised the project saying, “The wellbeing benefits of having something like this is absolutely immense.” It was also noted that the Our Health Meadow initiative aligned with the work Welsh Government are doing around social prescribing and climate emergency.
The health benefits of working with nature and wildlife has been recognised as impactful on mental and physical wellbeing, and this was highlighted in the presentation of evidence-based research collected over the last few years.
To showcase all the work that has been achieved, dedicated areas within the site were mapped out with information boards. These led to the Roundhouses, Sycamore Sculpture, Polyn Pren and Owl carvings to name a few.
As the celebrations continued throughout the day, many took part in the stick carving and pyrography workshop while others enjoyed making cob seating. Some even toasted marshmallows around the fire pit!