Community Wellbeing Enhanced by Wildlife Shelter

Organizers have stated that a wildlife shelter is facilitating people’s engagement with nature and fostering connections among them, yielding an “amazing effect”. Located in Preesall and Knott End, Lancashire, the shelter has already provided “nature based wellbeing sessions” to local residents. Kirsty Tyler, representing The Bay, the organization managing the program, commented, “It’s only been going two weeks and has become very popular.” The newly established shelter is situated within the garden of the Hope Community Care Hub. While The Bay originated in Morecambe, its outreach efforts have expanded to encompass the Over Wyre area, Fleetwood, and Thornton Cleveleys. Ms. Tyler explained that the community hub has collaborated with The Bay and The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and South Merseyside’s coastal wellbeing project, a program established following Covid to assist individuals in overcoming stress, isolation, and loneliness. She further stated, “It is amazing the effect of being outdoors and how nature activities especially can help people feel better.” She elaborated, “This can be anything from making bird feeders, completing wildlife surveys and doing bee-friendly planting.” The outdoor shelter will also soon be accessible for use by the entire community, independent of the scheduled wellbeing sessions. The initiative, known as The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery, has provided assistance to approximately 400 individuals experiencing poor mental health, for whom nature therapy was prescribed by GPs and other healthcare professionals.