If a new year demands a new you, Purbeck wellbeing coaches Jane Woods and Sara Greenwood are on hand to help, with a new eco-therapy scheme being rolled out in Swanage and Furzebrook.
As part of a new drive by the NHS to deliver preventative medicine, Planet Purbeck has been awarded funding from Dorset Community Foundation for a pilot scheme to help people improve their mental health.

Announcing the launch of Thrive in Nature are Jane Woods, Rob Waitt of Planet Purbeck and Sara Greenwood
Sessions to reduce stress and anxiety
Thrive In Nature, free nine week courses which start in January 2025, will help people who have problems with depression, anxiety or loneliness to feel better about themselves.
Participants in the programme will work creatively with natural materials such as clay and leaves and will also have an opportunity to experience forest bathing and join walk and talk sessions in the beautiful Purbeck countryside.
Jane Woods and Sara Greenwood are leading the Thrive in Nature sessions on behalf of Planet Purbeck to help build resilience and to reduce stress and anxiety, giving support to people to make positive changes in their day to day lives.
Sessions will take place at Durlston Country Park, RSPB Arne and Blue Pool among other places, and it is hoped that the pilot scheme will lead to future funding to keep the courses running all year round.

Sara Greenwood, whose company Vibrant Earth offers nature and forest therapy
Helping to make positive life changes
Sara Greenwood who lives in Stoborough, whose company Vibrant Earth offers nature and forest therapy, said:
“Nature is the best place to rest, heal and recharge. Many of us make getting out into nature a priority, but the full power of nature’s medicine can only truly be felt when we slow down enough to take it all in, because that’s when we remember our place as part of it.
“We were successful in getting a grant from the Dorset Community Foundation to run Thrive In Nature – at the root of it, the money has come from NHS Dorset to support wellbeing and mental health, and as a preventative measure to ease pressure on the NHS.
“Our course is designed to help adults living in Purbeck who are feeling anxious, depressed, lonely, isolated or living with a long-term health condition.
“We aim to help people reduce stress and build resilience, offering a focus on self care and helping people to bring about positive changes in their day to day living, as well as to spend nine weeks with other people in a friendly supportive community.”

Forest art works using natural materials can help people feel closer to nature
“Nature is a great healing resource”
Sara added:
“Nature and eco-therapy is very much at the centre of this to help people de-stress and feel more relaxed. It is based on the five pathways to connection with nature and about our relationship with nature and feeling at one with it.
“There is a lot of research out there, particularly from the University of Derby, about the science of nature connectiveness, about the relationship between humans and nature and how we feel happier with a better sense of wellbeing when that relationship is strong.
“It has been proven that people who spend two hours in nature will find stress levels reducing, their heart rate slows down, and it can even help to boost their immune system.
“I run regular nature connection events for the public in Purbeck over the course of a year and some come again and again, and form really nice friendships with one another. We really believe that nature is a great healing resource for people.”

A previous nature connection event was held at Sculpture by the Lakes
Reduce the burden on hospitals
The two courses will run on Wednesday mornings from 15th January to 12th March 2025 in Furzebrook, and from 23rd April to 25th June 2025 in Swanage, with 12 places on each course.
Anyone interested in the courses can register on the Planet Purbeck website or email thriveinnaturepurbeck@gmail.com – they will then be asked to complete a health questionnaire, which will be followed up by a phone call to make sure that they and the course are a good match for each other.
The NHS’s prevention plan seeks to reduce the burden on hospitals and other health services by encouraging individuals to take action through supported self-management. A crucial part of the scheme involves funding local projects, in this case via the Dorset Community Foundation.
It is part of a new drive by the NHS on preventative medicine, with an emphasis on helping people to help themselves.

Walking and talking in the beautiful Purbeck countryside can have huge positive effects
“A positive effect on mental health”
Swanage based Jane Woods, who runs Jane Woods Coaching to help people navigate the ups and downs of life, said:
“I spent 24 years in the pharmaceutical industry, much of it in oncology, but what always interested me was early intervention and education, so I became a wellbeing coach to help those with ADHD and people living with cancer.
“I grew up in the country and while you take the girl out of the countryside you can’t take the countryside out of the girl. Purbeck is such a beautiful area and to be able to use it from a therapeutic point of view is such a bonus.
“Just being out in nature soothes our nervous system, reduces our blood pressure and respiratory rate and boosts our immune system, so it has a physiological effect but also a big positive effect on our mental health.
“There’s a sense of being out in something much bigger than ourselves and when we are focussing on quite challenging problems it can feel like those are the only things going on in our lives.”

Participants may be working with flowers in Swanage to help develop a greater connection with nature
“Winter can be a hard time for people”
Jane added:
“Actually, when we go out into nature it gives us a sense of wonder and awe, a different perspective and a sense of problem solving. I’m a keen sea swimmer as well, which is also a massive help!
“In the past, we have run courses at Arne and at Sandyhill Arts and have found there is something about bringing people together to share experiences and realise that they are not alone in their difficult times, whether that is caring for a relative, bereavement, or their own long-term health.
“I find that most people will contact me in January, February and March as winter can be a really hard time for people, but it helps to draw on the dependability of nature, knowing that spring does come.
“We would like these courses to give people tools and techniques and ways of self managing to prevent later mental health challenges, to stay well and resilient in more challenging times. It is lovely to be able to give something back to my community.”

Nature spotting from a bird hide helps lower blood pressure and respiratory rate
NHS advice for a better winter
The NHS has issued the following advice for people to take care of their mental health and feel better over the winter months:
- Stay active. Gentle exercises like walking, yoga and swimming can make you feel happier and less stressed.
- Go outside. If the weather is nice, try to get some fresh air and sunlight each day to help improve your mood
- Talk to friends and family or join a group where you can talk to others
- Practice relaxation. Try deep breathing or relaxing activities like meditation to calm your mind
- Do fun activities. Spend time on hobbies you enjoy, like art, reading or puzzles
- Eat healthy and drink water. Eating good food and staying hydrated helps keep you feeling well
- Get enough sleep. Make sure you rest and sleep enough each night
- Set small goals. Try to do little things each day to feel proud of yourself
- Talk to your doctor. If you’re feeling really sad or worried, ask your doctor for help

It may seem bleak in January, but if winter comes, can spring be far behind?
Further information
- Find out more about Thrive In Nature on the Planet Purbeck website