The Solution
- Construction of a green-roofed wellbeing centre named: The Nature Haven on the grounds of Our Health Meadow. Current estimated costs of the building are £1.5 million in total which will enable passive and active enjoyment of the space; for exercise, events and workshops, relaxation and rehabilitation, food growing and foraging, commemorating loved ones, observing nature and seasonal change.
- The Nature Haven will include: Activity space, quiet space, kitchen, toilets, kit storeroom, drying room, cleaning storeroom, plant room along with a spiral staircase with access from the green roof to the activity spaces.
- The creation of two outdoor spaces: the patio and courtyard garden are additional usable spaces and thresholds to the landscape. A third outdoor space, the ornamental garden, is sheltered by a curving retaining wall and forms both a focused view and a privacy buffer between the quiet space and the wider, occupied landscape.
- We will use the funds to begin the construction of a new building using natural welsh materials that will prove a hub for activity at Our Health Meadow. In the construction of this innovative building, we will involve thousands of participants who will themselves gain health and wellbeing benefits from their participation and help to create an incredible, inspiring community centre for future generations.
- Down to Earth has developed an approach that can involve people in sustainable lad management and construction. The process is clinically proven to reduce anxiety and depression providing opportunities to socialise and exercise. People can gain employability skills and the process provides routes for patients to get better quicker, build physical strength and resilience post trauma, and building emotional strength after mental health problems.
- The design is prepared, to provide maximum opportunity of engagement with participants, and to minimise the need for external subcontractors, so that meaningful work is undertaken by participants. This work will be quality assured and assisted by skilled tradespeople within the Down to Earth Team to ensure the building will perform as required.
- The provision of this outdoor facility for health and wellbeing will help tackle inequality by providing long term access to a diverse community including young people not in education, employment or training, asylum seekers and refugees, people with long term health issues such as mental health problems or traumatic brain injury.
- We will work with our local community providing educational experiences for school children and volunteering opportunities to participate in a green gym, improving health and the environment at the same time.
- The project will be used as a place where healthcare professionals can refer to our programme for social prescribing, and using non-clinical activities to address people’s needs in a holistic way and for individuals to take greater control of their own health.
- Once the Nature Haven is built through social prescribing activities and building methods, it will provide a lasting legacy that can deliver wellbeing activities to our local community for generations to come.
- The Nature Haven and the surrounding landscaping will be built by staff, patients and the local community using natural materials as part of health and wellbeing programmes.