Harnessing the power of nature, togetherness, and creative digital activities to make a life-affirming experience
Our ACORN Project team and our North Cotswolds Social Prescribers recently ran an autumn Photography for Wellbeing Workshop at Batsford Arboretum for a group of local people living with mobility problems, poor mental health, or social isolation, and their carers.
Bo Moon from the ACORN team, who luckily has a degree in photography, devised a set of fun photographic activities for the participants to carry out with their smartphones or cameras. The aim of the workshop was to help everyone enjoy an outdoor social activity with a group of other people, to notice and reflect on the beauty of the natural world, and to gain a sense of achievement from creating interesting and beautiful images. You can see a selection of their photos in this online photo gallery.
The participants, staff and volunteers all enjoyed the event, and almost everyone said they'd noticed an improvement in their feeling of wellbeing through taking part in the workshop. Here are some of the participants' comments:
"It was a great walk with lovely people and the trees are beautiful"
"It was very enjoyable and made me notice the environment"
"Nice to meet people"
"It was a good opportunity to learn about the features of the smartphone camera in a beautiful setting"
"This setting is good for photography in nature"
"A day out in the autumn display at Batsford Arberetum is good for the soul and refreshing for the spirit"
"It's a beautifully peaceful way of collecting your mind and thoughts, a gorgeous way of healing, I'd recommend this to anyone and everyone"
To find out more about the full range of digital equity help and activities our ACORN Project can offer to everyone in Gloucestershire, see the ACORN Project web page here or email digital@grcc.org.uk
