We know our target is ambitious, especially during these tough times, but every donation has the potential to be doubled through match funding, helping us continue our vital work for people and the planet. For example the Aviva Community Fund, will match donations up to £250, pound for pound! 

Excitingly, we have also now received provisional pledge support from both the Cornwall Climate and Nature Crowdfunder https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/funds/cornwall-climate-nature and the Social Inclusion fund https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/.../cornwall-social... 

Both these funds are worth £5000 each in match funding. We need to raise £5000 from our crowd to receive these funds. 

Therefore any one pledge is doubled by Aviva (up to £250) and then is in essence than tripled in relation to the value given to Nature Connects, allowing us to go on and achieve so much more!

Nature Connects CIC was born with a simple but powerful vision: to help people reconnect with nature and each other. For the past four years we’ve had the privilege of working with hundreds of individuals, offering nature-based therapi es that promote mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Together, we've helped people rebuild their relationships with the natural world and rediscover the healing power of nature.

Now we need your help to continue this vital work and to ensure that everyone has access to the benefits of nature connection

At Nature Connects, we recognise that We Are Nature. Healing the self begins with healing our relationship to the earth—and this benefits not only individuals but the planet as well.

As a society, we’ve become increasingly disconnected from nature and each other, with devastating consequences for our health, wellbeing, and the environment. The climate crisis and ongoing mental health challenges highlight just how urgently we need to rediscover our connection to the natural world. We are committed to addressing these issues, but we can’t do it alone. We know that nature has the power to heal, inspire, and restore. Our programs offer a much-needed response to the interconnected crises of health, the environment, and the climate, but to continue this vital work we need your support.

The Funding Gap for Nature-Based Therapies

As a non-profit organisation, we face a significant challenge: there is a lack of funding for green prescriptions and nature-based therapies. These services offer an invaluable resource for those struggling with mental or physical health, stress, and emotional struggles—but they are often overlooked or underfunded by traditional healthcare systems. This gap leaves many people without access to the healing benefits of nature that could make a transformative difference in their lives.

We know that these therapies are essential to improving health and well-being and are crucial in building a more sustainable, resilient society. However, without adequate funding, we cannot continue to provide these life-changing programs to those who need them most.

We offer all of our programmes on a sliding scale to ensure that everyone can access them. However, at least 80% of participants require a fully funded place. This means many of the programmes we run need to be subsidised, and external funding from government, local authorities and foundations is all but non-existent. Our work is fundamentally based on inclusivity, which is why we need your help to ensure we can continue to provide access to nature to all those who need it, especially those who may already be struggling and facing marginalisation.   

In order to continue to sustain and develop this transformative work we need to raise £15,000. We are hopeful, that at least half of this, will be raised via the match funding we have applied for but we need your help to achieve this.

In the face of these challenges, we are working hard to generate our own funding to provide these life-changing services. With your help, we can ensure that more people have access to nature-based therapies and the healing power of the outdoors.

Nature-based therapies are an essential response to our current health, ecological, and climate crises. Here’s how:

• Addressing the Mental Health Crisis: Nature-based therapies provide crucial mental health support, helping people cope with stress, anxiety, and depression, which are on the rise due to the modern pressures of everyday life.
• Promoting Ecological Stewardship: Our programs encourage individuals to reconnect with the natural world, fostering a deeper respect for the environment and a commitment to sustainable living.
• Responding to the Climate Crisis: By offering nature connection experiences, we inspire people to take an active role in environmental conservation and climate action, empowering them to contribute to a healthier planet.

Your Impact: How Your Support Makes a Difference

Grants cover part of our costs, but your donation is crucial to sustaining and expanding our vital services and making them accessible to all. By reconnecting people with nature, we inspire positive action to protect the environment. Your support creates a ripple effect of change, benefiting both individuals and the planet.

How You Can Help:

Every contribution, no matter the size, helps fund transformative programs and experiences. If you're unable to donate, sharing this campaign can also make a significant impact. Together, we can make a real difference!

Here’s how your donation can make a real impact:

• £20 provides resources and materials for a 3-hour session, including firewood and refreshments
• £35 funds one person’s participation in a 3-hour group wellbeing session.
• £40 funds venue hire for a session
• £50 covers the cost of a 1:1, 90-minute session.
• £100 covers 1 day of admin paid at the National Living Wage
• £200 supports the materials for a 6-week programme, ensuring a high-quality experience.
• £300 covers our website costs for 1 year
• £400 covers our insurance costs for 1 year

Thank you for helping us bridge the funding gap and ensuring that nature-based therapies are available to those who need them most. Together, we can continue to make a difference for people, communities, and the planet.

Continue reading if you’d like to find out more about our expertise and programmes.

The Expertise Behind Our Programs:

What sets Nature Connects apart is our team of highly trained, knowledgeable, and experienced facilitators. Our facilitators are competent in three critical areas:

Nature Connection: We guide participants through meaningful activities that strengthen their bond with the natural world. This connection is not just about appreciating nature but about understanding our place within it—our role as caretakers and co-creators of the environment.

Health and Wellbeing: Our programmes are grounded in the latest research that shows how nature affects physical and mental health. Facilitators use evidence-based techniques to promote holistic health, including reducing stress, improving sleep, and boosting physical activity—all while helping participants build long-lasting skills for self-care and emotional wellbeing.

Ecotherapy and Deeper Nature: Our facilitators are trained in ecotherapy and ecodepths, therapeutic practices that uses nature as a healing partner. Through guided sessions in the woods, our team supports individuals in their personal growth and emotional healing by fostering a sense of belonging and peace through deeper connection with nature. Whether through nature-based mindfulness, sensory practices, or creative activities, our facilitators guide each participant at their own pace, creating a supportive environment for transformation.
These expertise allows us to provide a multifaceted healing experience that addresses the interconnected realms of mind, body, and spirit—ensuring the long-term health benefits of our programs.

Our Projects

You will be helping us sustain and expand our flagship and transformative Woodland Wellness Programme. Participants engage in mindfulness activities, practical and creative tasks, group and solo practices and reflection that foster a deep sense of connection with the natural world, all while improving their holistic health and wellbeing.
Its partner project, Nature Buddies Community, is for those that have attended any Nature Connects session previously. This program helps combat isolation by offering a space where people of all ages and backgrounds can continue to share nature experiences, learn new skills, and support each other in their personal journeys. It builds meaningful social connections and provides a sense of belonging.

What Participants Say:

Here’s what some of the hundreds of individuals who have benefited from our programs are saying:

• “Nature Connects has helped me reconnect with myself and nature. I feel more balanced, healthier, and have a renewed sense of purpose.”
• “It’s hard to feel alone when you're connected to everything around you. This programme has been a lifeline.”
• “I never thought nature could help my mental health this much. I’ve learned to be still, listen, and truly appreciate the world around me.”

You can read lots more testimonials on our website.

Our Expanding Programmes

In addition to these core offerings, we are proud to present several new initiatives that respond to our current health, ecological, and climate challenges. And mean we can work with people wherever they are at on their healing journey:

• Nature Reflects – This Ecotherapy Programme is a holistic healing approach that reconnects individuals with nature to promote emotional, psychological, and physical well-being, especially in trauma recovery. By engaging with natural environments, individuals can experience a sense of safety, grounding, and mindfulness, helping to integrate and process past trauma. Nature’s sensory experiences support emotional regulation and self-reflection, while the cycles of growth and renewal offer symbolic healing and restoration. Ecotherapy fosters wholeness by addressing the mind-body connection and creating space for trauma survivors to reconnect with themselves, find balance, and heal at their own pace. This will incorporate elements of breath work, somatic practices, trauma-informed yoga, and other gentle movement techniques to regulate the nervous system and support overall well-being.
• Deep Time Walks – A Journey Through the History of Gaia: A 4.6km walk through the stunning Cornish landscape, where participants connect with Earth’s deep time and history. This walk encourages a sense of perspective, helping individuals understand their place in the vast web of life and a space to consider action.
• Nature Depths – Finding Deeper Meaning and Purpose: A reflective program that helps individuals explore deeper questions about their life, meaning, and purpose. Using nature-based practices and group support, participants are guided to explore their innermost selves and uncover purpose that resonates with their life journey.
• Climate Cafe Listening Circles – A Space for Grief and Healing: In response to the ecological and climate crises, these circles offer a safe, supportive space for individuals to express eco-anxiety and to share their grief about the planet. The circle fosters community and collective healing as we navigate the challenges of our times.

We are also continuing to develop our work with the NatureWell approach in partnership with the Natural Academy. 

And we are excited to continue offering Staff Wellbeing sessions for NHS employees. These sessions equip workers with the tools they need to cope with stress, preventing burnout and enhancing their capacity to continue providing care.