Nature’s Cure welcomes the women of the Angelou Centre
In recent weeks the Nature’s Cure project has been so excited to welcome the Angelou Centre Walking Group. The Angelou Centre is in the West End of Newcastle and helps women, children and young people from minoritised communities recover after experiencing violence, abuse or unfair treatment. It was thus a privilege to be able to contribute to their work by inviting them to enjoy the joys of Gosforth Park Nature Reserve. Over two weeks, and in gorgeous weather, we joined the Walking Group for some special time in nature and to listen to their stories.
NHSN naturalists Hollie and Emily gave us guided nature walks, and we were lucky enough to spot Roe Deer, see some large and beautiful dragonflies and hear some longtailed tits. The whole group were really keen on learning nature details, finding out about how bats are able to sleep upside down and enjoying the unusual sight of a wasps’ nest that had been dug out by badgers.
In the Ridley Hide, we also enjoyed using binoculars to look out across the lake and had amazing close views of a kingfisher catching fish.
After our walk together, the Walking Group women were generous enough to share their stories of nature and about how the visit had made them feel. From these moving stories come themes of peace and relief from stress.
One woman spoke of how being in nature boosts her inner wellbeing, refreshes her and gives a place of escape:
“I feel confident away from life’s hustle and bustle. Smell and surroundings are good. Away from real life. Being together feels real. It rejuvenates me. Our souls need this time.”
Another felt that nature was part of her identity and a place of peace and relaxation:
“I am a nature person. I love to explore nature places so I like to explore this place very much. I am living in a refuge 24/7. I stay in the house. So I like to come here where it is peaceful. I can feel more relaxed. After so many days, now I can feel stress free. When I saw the water and the birds it was relaxing. I am in a so relaxed mood now. It was such a lovely place to come. Inshallah I will come back again. I would like to say thanks to NHS team and my team for giving me this opportunity to come to this place. Thank you.”
There were also several stories with very profound thoughts on nature. Faiza writes that:
“Nature is a living web that connects us all. Each bird, tree and wind plays its part in keeping balance of life. When we walk through the reserve and hear the calls of birds or see a flash of a kingfisher’s wings, we are reminded that the world is richer and more vibrant than we often notice. To preserve this beauty, we must; treat it with care, protect habitats, conserve resources, support biodiversity, and be mindful visitors.”
Another woman also focuses on the interconnectedness of nature and paints the widest picture. She provides us with some fascinating quotes to help us reflect on nature as a key source of teaching:
“Nature is everything around us- the trees, rivers, mountains, animals, sky and even tiny insects. It provides us with fresh air to breathe and water to drink, food to eat and medicines that help us stay healthy. It also gives us space, peace, beauty and a place to relax and enjoy. Without nature humans and animals could not survive which is why we must take care of it by planting trees, saving water and protecting wildlife for future generations…
Quotes I love about nature:
“In every walk with nature, one receives more than he seeks” -John Muir.
“Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better” -Albert Einstein. “The earth has music for those who listen” -George Santayana.
Thank you…”
Several women talked of how they had enjoyed the visit and would love to come again. We would love to see them:
“I visited GNR and listened to talks about nature. I learned about the history of NHSN. I feel very good and I want to come again and learn more about nature.”
Many thanks to the women of the Angelou Centre for making the days so fun and for sharing their thoughts. We really enjoyed meeting them all and hearing how much nature means to them. It was so brilliant to see them making the most of the visit, taking many videos and pictures, and we hope they will have some good memories to take away.
If you too would like to share your experience of what nature means in your life, we would love to hear it! You can share it online here, email us at nena.nhsn@newcastle.ac.uk, or contact us in person or at an event.
