Project Description
Nature Connect: Bringing People, Nature and Wellbeing Together in Swale
A shared walk. Getting hands dirty in the garden. A conversation with someone you have just met. These are some of the experiences at the heart of Nature Connect: Swale Wellbeing for All, Diversity House’s free community wellbeing programme for adults in Swale.
Supported by Kent County Council through Nature’s Way to Wellbeing, the project creates opportunities for people to spend time outdoors, explore practical activities and connect with others in a welcoming environment.
The programme is led by Adekunle R. Shodiya, Diversity House’s Health and Nature Based Practitioner and Project Officer, with support from colleagues and volunteers. Across two cohorts, Nature Connect has brought together walking, gardening, creativity, gentle movement and reflection, with the aim of supporting wellbeing and reducing social isolation.
Making Space for Connection
Joining a new group can feel unfamiliar. Nature Connect gives participants something to do together, allowing conversations to develop naturally while walking, planting or creating.
There is no expectation to be an experienced gardener, confident artist or regular walker. The emphasis is on participation at a manageable pace, trying something new and making room for different experiences and abilities.
For Diversity House, this reflects a wider commitment to creating inclusive community spaces where people from different backgrounds can feel welcome and involved.
Cohort 1: Beginning the journey
The first cohort introduced participants to shared outdoor experiences, practical activities and opportunities to reflect on their wellbeing.
Time in local green spaces, community activities and Gardening sessions in July offered different ways to enjoy the outdoors together. Participants could explore their interests while spending time with others beyond their usual routines.
This first phase established the foundations for Nature Connect: a welcoming group, purposeful activities and space for conversation. These principles continued into the second cohort.
Cohort 2: Six weeks, six ways to connect
Running from 7 September to 12 October 2026, the second cohort follows six themes:
Connect. Discover. Grow. Nurture. Create. Celebrate.
Sessions bring participants together at Milton Creek Country Park, Diversity House’s Community Garden and Albany Park in Sittingbourne.
The opening session focused on introductions, personal goals and discovering the surroundings through a gentle walk and sensory activities. Breathing exercises, mindfulness and nature journals encouraged participants to pause, notice and reflect.
The following session continued that exploration through walking and shared observations. Taking time to notice the details around them gave participants something to discuss and record in their journals.
At Diversity House’s Community Garden, the group moved from observing nature to getting hands dirty. Planting and creative activities offered practical ways to participate, while breathing exercises, conversation and reflection remained part of the sessions.
The programme also makes space for gratitude: noticing something enjoyable, recognising a contribution or reflecting on a moment from the day.
The final part of the six-week journey focuses on nature-inspired creativity and celebration. Planned activities include creative journalling, poetry and nature art, followed by an opportunity to reflect on the programme and identify an outdoor habit to continue.
Small activities to take home
Nature Connect encourages participants to carry something from each session into everyday life.
The participant pack includes simple challenges such as spending ten minutes in a green space, photographing something in nature that brings a smile, caring for a plant or creating a piece of nature-inspired art.
These activities can be adapted to different circumstances. Connecting with nature might involve visiting a nearby park, tending a windowsill plant or taking a few minutes to observe the surroundings.
Listening and learning
Participant feedback, wellbeing questionnaires and check-ins form part of the project’s evaluation. They help Diversity House understand how people experience the programme and where future delivery can improve.
As Cohort 2 is still underway, final wellbeing findings across both cohorts are not yet available. The programme’s aims are to support wellbeing, build confidence and strengthen social connection, and the evaluation will help assess progress towards those aims.
Growing together
Nature Connect is about the experiences people share as much as the activities themselves: working alongside someone, exchanging ideas and having time to talk.
Through both cohorts, Diversity House has created opportunities for adults in Swale to explore nature and community together. Each session offers a starting point—a walk, a planted seed or a shared conversation—that participants can build on in their own lives.
To find out more about Nature Connect and future opportunities, contact Diversity House at info@diversityhouse.org.uk.
Nature Connect: Swale Wellbeing for All is delivered by Diversity House with funding from Kent County Council through Nature’s Way to Wellbeing.