Located on 160-acres of meadows and woodland in Oldham, the Northern Roots project is harnessing the land to benefit people, planet and place. In the coming years, the site will become the UK’s largest urban farm and eco.
A key pillar of the project is the Natural Health Service, which was set up in 2023 and provides ongoing tailored nature connection for participants referred by a local GP practice, Oldham Public Health, Turning Point and Get Oldham Working.
The Natural Health Service offers a range of activities including nature crafts, foraging, breath work, growing and green woodworking. Participants with overlapping mental and physical health conditions have reported substantial improvements in their day to day lives. For example, using the Warwick and Edinburgh Wellbeing Scale, referrals from our local GP Practice, Hilltop Surgery, reported a collective 54.83% improvement in wellbeing for the whole group, and 66.48% average increase in overall wellbeing per person.
Funding from GM Health Inequalities Green Social Prescribing Project has allowed the Natural Health Service to expand, with a focus on connecting with local minority groups. The programme is forming new partnerships with organisations such as BAME Connect, Greater Manchester South Asian Women and Chai Women’s Group, SAWN (Support & Action Women’s Network), Tameside, Oldham and Glossop Mind and Fatima Women’s Association.
They run seven weekly nature sessions, using various approaches to connect with nature.
Within the Wild Wanderers, Wise Women and CHAI Women outreach group, local women have been decorating candles, foraging for tea leaves, enjoying nature walks and gardening. Beyond these sessions, participants will be able to join other sessions such as Green Guardians and Nature Nurturers.
Steph Wild, Northern Roots Natural Health Service Lead, says that the new groups are settling in well.
Our new groups are going brilliantly. The women have particularly enjoyed trying and learning new things like green woodworking. They have dedicated space to be creative, to deepen their connection with nature and to connect socially over wild teas. Over 30 women have joined our Autumn / Winter programme and we expect to work with new groups early next year. The feedback from the women has been heartening, with many saying it has fast become the highlight of their week.
