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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Women’s Stand-Up Paddleboarding initial lessons – Lochbroom, Ullapool
Project Overview Ullapool Stepping Stones Project provided funding to Seaful Vitamin Sea Project to deliver women’s stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) sessions in Lochbroom, Ullapool. The session was designed to provide a low-barrier opportunity for local women to access blue space activity in a supportive environment with a qualified local instructor (Cal Major for this lesson). The…
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Healthy Young Minds
Healthy Young Minds (HYM) is an early intervention programme co-produced with high school students living in remote and rural parts of Highland. The programme aims to promote mental well-being, increase resilience and reduce anxiety through engagement with nature and local greenspaces. HYM is a collaboration between researchers at the University of South Wales, the University…
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Think Health Think Nature Newsletter- Green Health Week Special Edition
Grab a cup of tea and have a read of our Green Health Week Special Edition Newsletter.
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Arts in Nature: How partnership, creativity and nature can break down barriers
Charlotte Mackenzie of Arts in Nature shares how working with like‑minded organisations, getting creative and connecting with nature can break down barriers and bring people together. Drawing on experiences from her work with community projects, she explores how nature‑based creativity can boost confidence, create a connection and make nature feel welcoming for everyone. How partnerships…
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Growing Together: Inclusive Gardening at Inverness Botanic Gardens
Overview Inverness Botanic Gardens is home to the GROW Project, a long‑running and much‑loved gardening initiative supporting adults with learning disabilities. In March 2026, the Gardens hosted a community event in the GROW garden that brought together people with learning disabilities, people living with dementia, carers, garden staff, and researchers. The event explored how gardening…
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Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services Staff Winter Workshop- supporting staff connection with nature
Written by Katy Duncan, Youth Participation and Engagement Worker, Innovation Challenge Project Just before the 2025 Christmas break, we gathered for a truly memorable and uplifting continued professional development (CPD) day – one that reminded me of the power of connection: with each other, with nature, and with ourselves. The themes of the day were…
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High Life Highland Heritage Ranger – Curling
The aim of this project was to engage younglearners in both the historical and scientific aspects ofcurling. You can read the full case study here
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High Life Highland Countryside Rangers working with Green Libraries
In July 2024 High Life Highland Libraries secured £2500 in funding from CILIPS Scotland to developfour pilot climate hubs within libraries across the Highlands. This case study will focus on the development of these hubs, lessons learned from the initiative, and the legacy of the project. The project team for the Green Libraries initiative was…
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Think Health Think Nature – Small Grant Fund (Badenoch and Strathspey)
The Highland Health Board Endowment Fund Charity (SC016791) is pleased to announce investment of £60,000 for the delivery a Green Health Grants scheme for Badenoch and Strathspey. The funding will support community-led activity that helps to improve physical and mental health and wellbeing and build community resilience through engagement with, and appreciation of, the natural…
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Introducing Youth Participation & Engagement Worker, Katy Duncan and the Innovation Challenge Project
Hello! I’m Katy Duncan and I’m excited to introduce myself as the new Youth Participation and Engagement Worker for the Innovation Challenge project, “Enabling Connections through Green and Creative Spaces”. This work has been developed through new funding awarded to NHS Highland CAMHS to deliver community-based interventions alongside essential, third-sector partners, working in the Inverness…
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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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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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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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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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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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Welcome Helen!
We’re excited to welcome Helen Perkins who is our new Senior Development Officer Green Health 🙂 Helen is originally from Cornwall but has lived here in the Highlands for over 15 years . Helen moved here to be near the Mountains so she could ski more. Helen tells us “ I still love to ski…
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Highland Green Health Showcase and Planning Event
In May 2023 the Highland Green Health Partnership hosted a showcase and planning event. at UHI. It brought together representatives from the public sector, health & social care sector, and third sector organisations, that have been invaluable in taking forward green health action in Highland. The outputs of this event will inform our Highland Green Health Sustainability Strategy and…
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Walking for Green Health Week 2023!
Green Health Week is all about celebrating the great outdoors, connecting with nature and enjoying our natural environment. What better way to do that than walking! Charlotte Mackenzie, project manager of Think Nature Health Walks (TNHW), talks about the many benefits of walking in nature and how you can join a walking group and take…
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Green Health Small Grant Fund 2023 Awarded to 18 Community Organisations
We are delighted to announce that in May 2023 we awarded 18 Highland groups funding through our recent small grant fund! Please find below a short summary of the groups and projects who have been awarded grants. Gairloch Area Development Ltd – Skye, Lochalsh & Wester Ross- This project will set up a Wester Ross Growers…
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Pathsforall Volunteers Awards celebrate people going the extra mile for their communities.
Pathsforall Volunteers Awards celebrate people going the extra mile for their communities. Pathsforall announced the winners of their Volunteer Awards 2022 at an uplifting ceremony at The Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. The 13th annual Volunteer Awards took place on 28th September. Pathsforall celebrated 11 individuals and groups who have made amazing contributions to the health…
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Generations Working Together
Generations Working Together encourage you to save the date and share the details of the meetings with your contacts and communities to welcome new people to come along and learn about what it means to be intergenerational and how it can make a real difference to people of all ages. We are super excited to…
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