Week 1 - Contact/Senses

We will be kicking off the course by looking at the first of the 5 pathways to nature connectedness, this is CONTACT/SENSES.

You will need to bring:

·         Objects collected from nature that represent the 5 senses - It might be nice to use one of your daily walks to collect these, but they can also be from your garden or things you have in your house.

·         A notepad or journal suitable for drawing in. Several pieces of paper stapled or tied together is also fine.

·         Tools for drawing such as a pencil or pencil.

·         Optional – coloured pencils, crayons, or pastels.  

This week will start with a short introduction to the Somerset Nature Connections project and how connecting with nature can be beneficial both to our health and wellbeing, and to the wellbeing of the environment. 

·         Introduce the idea of ‘grounding’ and how it can help our wellbeing and connection to nature.

·         Complete a short grounding exercise lead by the facilitator, including thinking about how our senses connect us to nature.

·         Explore some simple drawing techniques and look at how drawing can help us focus on the details within nature.

·         Use all of our senses to really focus on what’s around us.

·         Reflect on how these activities help our wellbeing and develop our connection to nature.

Take home activity for this week (to be completed in between session 1 and 2): Draw the view from your window using one of the techniques you explored during the session.