Dear Friends, It has definitely been quite a year of change and adaptation. We have all experienced the same trends on a local and national scale that are out there internationally – including covid, climate change, equality and diversity awareness, political ups and downs, impacts of population, conflict, migrants, and increased urban and industrial [...]
Dear Friends, We have the smell of freedom in our nostrils at the moment as the 19th of July looms as a date for lifting our Covid restrictions. I wonder what this will mean for us all - but sense we will all adapt in different ways -some of us revelling and partying, others [...]
Happy Earth Day to our Friends, Funders and Supporters, The guillemots fly over my head in two directions, reminiscent of a busy avian airport. Some fly so low over my head, as they come across the waves, that their wing-beats drum in my ears and I imagine the wind from their wings tickling my [...]
Dear Friends, Funders and Supporters, As I write, the office is alive with staff and outdoor therapists all streaming back in from their various programmes in the woods and fields surrounding our office. Those stuck indoors welcome the smell of woodsmoke that follows them around, as if hinting of the outdoors and the experiences [...]
Dear Friends, Funders and Supporters, We are delighted to announce the appointment of our new Chair of Trustees, Vincent Thompson. Vincent, a former High Sheriff of Essex, Deputy Lieutenant and Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Essex succeeds Peter Martin, who has been Chair since 2014 and will remain as a trustee and chair of the Finance [...]
Dear Friends, Funders and Supporters, Thank you for taking the time to read this first blog post, which is all very exciting. I have some fantastic news to share with you all. We have recently received funding from the Ernest Cook Trust to fund the position of a 'Green Mentor' (that's me). The role [...]
Dear Friends, Funders and Supporters, I am writing to share with real sense of achievement to you all – after what has been quite a year – but we made it – with our thanks to you all for your support and belief in us as an organisation. We will enter the new year [...]
We have signed @ukyouth4nature letter along with 50+other organisations, calling for investment for greater access to nature for everyone. Our CEO, Jo Roberts, explains why: “Understanding the devastation of green and natural space on biodiversity is hard enough, but its loss will impact the wellbeing of our youth and communities as well. We call on [...]
At the Wilderness Foundation UK, our therapy programmes encourage clients to explore issues around the challenges they face with their mental health while actively participating in a natural setting. For example, the associate wilderness therapist will sit with a client around a fire and enquire about the client's experiences, whether it involves issues with [...]
Dear Friends,Since our last newsletter much has changed again in the world around us. Whatever the state of the times, we continue to deal with a new reality of how we live. This continues to have real uncertainty about what the future may hold for us all in terms of health, social contact, and economics [...]
It is mental health awareness. It does come around each year – but I think this year – with all that is going on around us as we enter 58 days of lockdown – is a really important to consider for us all. Several people I know talk about feelings of frustration, uncertainty, loss [...]
Wilderness Foundation CEO Jo Roberts reflects on the present - COVID-19 its impacts on the Foundation and her thoughts during this time. Looking to nature as a reprieve and reflecting on what we have and what we can do for others. It is a boiling hot day and feels like summer and [...]
Recently a team of four students from Pitlochry High School entered the Youth Philanthropy Initiative in a bid to win funding for our Scottish based Imbewu programme. Rebecca, Mati, Oliver and Dan worked together for over 6 weeks putting together a presentation about why they thought Imbewu was an important programme, the impact it [...]
Dear Friends, We are getting glimmers of sun every now and again in the midst of snow, frost and really cold weather. Seasons are so important in terms of making sense of the world – as they ebb and flow – with regularity and purpose. They can be quite reassuring and can serve as an [...]
Dear Friends, As this year comes to an end and a new one begins, it does offer us a time to reflect backwards and plan forwards. Each first day of a New Year offers an opportunity to start things fresh, make sincere commitments to do more of the good things and leave behind the behaviours [...]