We welcome guest blogs from people living and working in Highland to help to inspire and raise awareness of the ways in which contact with nature can help to improve our health and wellbeing. If you have a story you would like to share, please read our guidance and get in touch.
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Woman’s Walking Group; supporting the Gypsy/Traveller Community
“I started the walking group to create an opportunity for the women in our community to have a break from the work at home and to reduce social isolation that many people in the Gypsy/Traveller experience- especially since Covid”. Jessie McPhee is one of the Community Health Worker for MECOPP and works to improve…
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Ullapool Families celebrate funding to support wellbeing through nature
Families in the Ullapool High School Catchment area are set to benefit from £87,000 funding to support family wellbeing through nature connection. The money will support a two year project called ‘Stepping Stones’, aimed at improving wellbeing through pathways into nature-based activities. The Whole Family Wellbeing Programme is a national Scottish Government initiative aimed at…
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Kinlochleven Welcomes New Green Health Officer
Lucy is originally from the North-East of England and moved to Kinlochleven last year from Manchester where she was working as a water engineer. She has experience volunteering in the third sector and teaches yoga. “I studied and started my career in the engineering sector but found I was much more interested in the community…
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The beach is for everyone- and accessibility is easier than you think…
Nairn Beach Wheelchairs (NBW) is a volunteer run organisation that enables wheelchair users to access the beach through their free to use, specialised beach wheelchairs. They just opened in March 2025 and will have an official launch this summer- keep an eye out for announcements, there are exciting things coming! NBW has 5 manual wheelchairs…
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Young people and nature connection- A case study from the Cairngorm National Park Authority
A partnership project, between Aboyne Academy and the Cairngorms National Park Authority Ranger Service, provided six sessions designed to provide a small group of students with the mental and physical health benefits associated with connecting them to nature. The three students who attended these pilot sessions were barely attending school due to mental health challenges and…
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Hospital Greenspace- Apple Tree Planted at New Craigs Hospital
We are very grateful for a donation of a new apple tree from Torbreck Orchard to replace one that was damaged by deer. Helene Morse, New Craigs Hospital Manager helped plant the apple tree, alongside the Apex Highland team, as part of her pledge to support action to nurture the hospital grounds. The New Craig’s orchard was…
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January 2025 Newsletter
The January 2025 news letter can be viewed here You can subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter here
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Minutes & Papers December 2024
Agenda Agenda 3.12.24 Minutes Minutes of the Meeting 3.12.24 Associated Papers Agenda Item 3 – Natural Capital Agenda Item 4 – Health Walks Agenda Item 5 – Sustainability Action Plan
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December Newsletter
Our December Newsletter is now live and packed full of information, events and resources. To subscribe to our future monthly e- newsletters please sign up at www.thinkhealththinknature.scot
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Avoiding Slips, Trips and Falls in Winter
Now that a cold snap is upon us, it is worth preparing a little to help avoid any unwelcome injuries. Slip and trip accidents increase during the Autumn and Winter season for a number of reasons: there is less daylight, leaves fall onto paths and become wet and slippery and cold weather spells cause ice…
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November Newsletter 2024
Our latest newsletter is now live filled with events, resources, funding and research news for Highland. Sign-up to our monthly newsletter.
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Have you Seen the Highland Mental Health & Wellbeing Newsletter?
Aim of the Mental Health Delivery Group is that all people in Highland will benefit from good health and wellbeing. Through these mental health and wellbeing newsletters, the group which has representatives from across a range of services and from each of the nine community planning areas, aims to highlight community activities and services happening locally.…
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Newsletter October 2024
Our latest newsletter is now live filled with events, resources, funding and research news for Highland. Sign-up to our monthly newsletter.
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Minutes and Papers – September 2024
Please view the minutes and papers for the September 2024 meeting Agenda Agenda 3.9.24 Minutes Minutes 3.9.24 Associated Papers Agenda Item 3 – Revised Definitions Agenda Item 4 – Annual Report Agenda Item 5 – Sustainability Plan Agenda Item 8 – Nature Prescriptions Report Date of Next Meeting 3rd December 2024
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Arts in Nature Creative Session with Gateway Homeless Trust
Executive Summary This case study explores the creative activity delivered by the Arts in Nature project, focusing on a nature-based arts session for vulnerable adults who are supported by Gateway Homeless trust. The session aimed to engage participants of varying ages and all abilities in natural and artistic activities, highlighting the wellbeing benefits combining art with…
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Minutes & Papers June 2024
Highland Green Health Partnership Agenda Agenda for 11th June 2024 Minutes Minutes 11th June 2024 Associated Papers Agenda Item 4 – Nature, Climate and Health Charter Agenda Item 5a – Sustainability Plan Reporting Tracker Agenda Item 5b – Sustainability Plan Presentation Agenda Item 7a – Kinlochleven Stepping Stones Report Agenda Item 7b – Ullapool Stepping…
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Minutes & Papers February 2024
Highland Green Health Partnership Agenda Agenda for 26th February 2024 Minutes Minutes for 26th February 2024 Associated Papers Agenda Item 4 – SAMH Charter Declaration and Action Plan Agenda Item 5 – Sustainability Action Plan Agenda Item 7 – Presentation Scottish Household Survey Results 2022 Agenda Item 8 – PHIRS Scotland Summary
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Getting outside and exercising saved my life
Anyway, getting outside and exercising saved my life. It changed who I am and I wish I had been more open minded about it’s powers ten years ago but that is all part of this journey I think.
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Connecting to nature
Green Health Link Worker Louise, from the Cairngorms National Park Authority explores what nature connection means to her, whilst Gavin shares an easy nature connection activity that can be done anywhere. I love the walk to drop off my son at nursery in the morning – the movement and fresh air sets me up for…
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Think Nature Health Walks – Green Health Week
Written by Isabel McLeish, Health Walk Coordinator As the Coordinator for the Think Nature Health Walks, I support a network of walking and buggy groups throughout rural Highland. Our walks help you to connect with nature, meet likeminded people, and to enjoy being more active outdoors. Walking in your local green space is a great…
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Creating a mini meadow!
I can’t explain how excited I was to see that the yellow rattle seeds I scattered in a small area of my garden last year were growing! ….
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Accessibility Statement
Think Health Think Nature is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018. This accessibility statement applies to this NHS Highland corporate website: www.thinkhealththinknature.scot Our commitment to web accessibility standards Think Health Think Nature is committed to our website and web resources being…
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Case Study: Refugees and Nature for Health
Nature for Health green health programme Over the course of a year Nature for Health ran a series of outdoor activities for refugee families from Syria and Afghanistan, now settled in the Highlands. Starting from September 2021, the 5 hour long events took place in Dingwall Pefferside Park, the beach and Big Burn woods at…
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Green Health Case Study: Darach Social Croft
Sarah and Hugh moved to Darach croft on the Ardnamurchan peninsula in West Lochaber in 2017. They already had 15 years’ experience of providing support to individuals with mental, emotional and behavioural issues; learning disabilities, autism and neurodiversity; experience of care; drug and alcohol problems and histories of offending behaviour. Sarah also had previous experience…
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Minutes and Papers November 2023
Highland Green Health Partnership Agenda Agenda for 29 November 2023 Minutes Minutes for 29 November 2023 Associated Papers Agenda Item 3 – HGHP Terms of Reference Agenda Item 4 – Sustainability Action Plan Agenda Item 5 – HGHP Communications Sub-Group Notes Agenda Item 8 – Small Grant Fund Evaluation
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Minutes and Papers August 2023
Highland Green Health Partnership Agenda This meeting took the form of a workshop exploring the outputs from the showcase event in May Minutes Minutes Associated Papers Showcase Event Report Draft Sustainability plan HGHP Logic Model HGHP Draft Vision HGHP Framework Draft Actions for Embedding Green Health
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Minutes and Papers June 2023
Highland Green Health Partnership Agenda Agenda 6.6.23 Minutes Minutes 6.6.23 Associated Papers Agenda Item 4 – Green Health Week Agenda Item 6 – Nature, Climate Health Agenda Item 7 – Workplan Agenda Item 7 a – Green Health Fund recipients Agenda Item 8a – Lochaber Pilot Agenda Item 8b – Caithness Pilot Agenda Item 9…
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Minutes and Papers February 2023
Highland Green Health Partnership Agenda Agenda 13.2.23 Minutes Meeting Minutes 13.2.23 Associated Papers Agenda Item 4b – Stepping Stones – Community Led Pathways Agenda Item 4c – Nature Climate Health Agenda Item 5 – Communications Plan Agenda Item 7 – Showcase Event Planning
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Think Nature Health Walks – Meet Isabel
We are delighted to welcome Isabel McLeish who is the new Health Walk Coordinator for the Think Nature Health Walks project at HTSI.
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Development of Forest Bathing Green Prescriptions in the Cairngorms
Funding from the Highland Green Health Small Grant Fund has enabled the development of a monthly forest bathing community to establish in Grantown-on-Spey, located at the Grantown Medical Centre Health Wood. The group is open to all and also welcomes participants through a green prescription pathway, from local GP’s and the Green Health Link Worker.
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