We hold a Thriving in Nature Workshop at least once a month, creating regular opportunities for families and individuals to reconnect with nature in a calm, welcoming outdoor setting. Our sessions, delivered at Bridge Street Community Garden and Britannia Road, bring the community together to enjoy the wellbeing benefits of spending time outdoors.

🌿 Bridge Street Community Garden – Workshop 1

Our first Thriving in Nature session was held at Bridge Street Community Garden and brought together families and individuals to reconnect with nature in a calm, welcoming outdoor setting.

Children enjoyed hands-on, sensory play, painting, exploring the mud kitchen, and engaging with natural materials that encouraged creativity and imagination. The space provided a safe and stimulating environment for outdoor learning and play.

Adults took part in creative wellbeing activities, including making natural hand scrubs using ingredients such as sugar, salt, coffee grounds, coconut oil, and herbs.

These sessions promoted self-care, sustainability, and practical skills, while also offering a chance to relax and connect with others.

Overall, the session created a peaceful green space where participants could reduce stress, build social connections, and enjoy the benefits of nature together.

🌿 Bridge Street Community Garden & Castle Quay Community Hubb-Creative Nature – Workshop 2 (Nov, 2025)

Participants enjoyed a range of creative and engaging activities designed to support wellbeing, build confidence, and strengthen community connections.

Adults took part in a hands-on craft session, designing their own cotton sachet bags using colourful ribbons, buttons, fabric pieces, and natural scents. This activity encouraged creativity, self-expression, and mindfulness, while also introducing simple, low-cost wellbeing techniques that participants can continue at home.

Children explored their imagination through nature-inspired sculpture making, using materials such as wood, clay, leaves, and other natural elements. This provided a sensory and inclusive way to engage with the outdoors, supporting creativity, fine motor skills, and confidence building.

The session concluded with everyone coming together to enjoy freshly prepared hot samosas, creating a warm and welcoming space for conversation and connection. Shared meals like this play an important role in reducing social isolation and fostering a sense of belonging within the community.

Overall, the session supported improved mental wellbeing, encouraged positive social interaction, and provided participants with practical skills and meaningful experiences in a safe and inclusive environment.

Bug Hotel Environmental Session – Britannia Road Garden Session (13 December)

Over 40 beneficiaries attended this practical environmental workshop.

Participants created bug hotels using recycled and natural materials such as branches, tins, and brooms- learning how small actions support biodiversity and pollinators essential for healthy ecosystems.

Alongside this, families took part in arts, crafts, and outdoor play, helping children develop confidence and curiosity about nature.

Families built bug hotels using recycled and natural materials, learning how small environmental actions support pollinators and biodiversity while encouraging children to care for their local environment. Adapting to winter weather, this session used natural materials, crafts, and sensory activities to bring the calming benefits of nature indoors while maintaining creativity and community connection.

During this hands-on workshop, families worked together to design and use recycled and natural materials such as bamboo, twigs, bark, pinecones, straw, and repurposed containers. The activity combined creativity with environmental learning, giving participants practical ways to support wildlife right on their doorstep.

🌼 Why Bug Hotels Matter

Bug hotels provide essential shelter for beneficial insects that are vital to healthy ecosystems. Many insects struggle to survive in urban environments where natural habitats have been reduced by development and landscaping.

These small structures help to:

• 🐝 Support pollinators such as solitary bees, which play a crucial role in pollinating flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
• 🐞 Encourage natural pest control, attracting insects like ladybirds that feed on aphids and help gardens grow without chemicals.
• 🍃 Increase biodiversity by creating safe spaces for insects to rest, nest, and overwinter.
• 🌍 Reconnect communities with nature, showing how even small environmental actions can make a meaningful difference.

🌱 Learning Through Doing

Participants discovered that conservation doesn’t require large-scale change, simple actions like building a bug hotel can:

• Teach children about lifecycles, habitats, and sustainability
• Promote respect for wildlife and the environment
• Encourage families to create their own nature-friendly spaces at home
• Reduce waste by reusing materials creatively

This workshop also highlighted how insects are essential to food production and healthy green spaces, helping participants understand the link between biodiversity, climate resilience, and community wellbeing.

Nature-Inspired Creative Wellbeing – Workshop 4

Our fourth workshop focused on mindful creativity, using wool, natural fibres, and biodegradable materials to create collaborative art pieces. The session fostered calm, connection, and self-expression in a supportive environment, demonstrating how nature-based creativity can reduce stress and build confidence.

🍃 👉💬 What Participants Told Us

Feedback from attendees highlights the programme’s impact on wellbeing and belonging:

“I feel refreshed being outside, it uplifts me.”

“It feels good coming outside; it makes me feel better being in nature.”

“It is de-stressing coming and forgetting about your problems.”

These reflections show how access to nature, often taken for granted, can be transformative for those facing isolation, financial hardship, or displacement.

Thriving in Nature – Workshop 5 (Upcoming Workshop)

Our fifth Thriving in Nature workshop, took place on Saturday 28th February at Britannia Road Children’s Centre, Banbury (OX16 5DN).

This fifth session will focused on a nature-inspired collage workshop, offering participants the opportunity to explore creativity in a calm and supportive environment. Using a variety of natural imagery and materials, attendees will create their own unique artwork while enjoying the therapeutic benefits of creative expression.

The session was designed to promote mental wellbeing, relaxation and social connection, providing a welcoming space where individuals and families can take time out from daily pressures and engage in mindful, creative activity.

Participants had a friendly and inclusive atmosphere, with all materials provided and free refreshments available. The session was open to all, with children welcome when accompanied by an adult and no booking required.

Delivered in collaboration with Bridge Street Community Garden and with thanks to the support of Oxfordshire Community Foundation, this workshop continues our commitment to creating accessible opportunities for the community to connect, create and thrive.

📊 Our Impact So Far

Thriving in Nature in Action (September 2025 – January 2026)

Since its launch in September 2025, Thriving in Nature has reached 200 local residents (September 2025 – January 2026), delivering a range of practical workshops, hands-on gardening experiences, creative activities, and guided outdoor visits.

This strong participation reflects the need for inclusive, nature-focused opportunities within our community and shows the meaningful impact the programme is having on wellbeing, self-confidence, social inclusion, and connection to green spaces.

The initiative is delivered in partnership with Bridge Street Community Garden and made possible through the generous support of Oxfordshire Community Foundation.

🌼 Outcomes So Far

Through these first four sessions and trips, Thriving in Nature has already:

• Supported over 200 participants from underserved communities
• Introduced families to green spaces they would not otherwise access
• Reduced isolation through shared outdoor experiences
• Encouraged environmental awareness and stewardship
• Improved confidence, mood, and social connection
• Created safe, culturally inclusive spaces for wellbeing

🌍 Looking Ahead

Thriving in Nature will continue to deliver monthly workshops, outdoor learning, and community gardening opportunities, helping Banbury residents build lasting relationships with nature, their community, and their own wellbeing.

Impact Snapshot

From September 2025 to January 2026, Thriving in Nature has already:

• 🌱 Engaged 200 participants from Banbury’s most underserved communities
• 🌳 Delivered 4 hands-on workshops, 2 ‘Lets Grow Together’ gardening sessions and 1 outdoor family trip. We have also delivered Thai-chi and Yoga sessions for health and well-being.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Supported families, refugees, women, men, and young people experiencing isolation
• 💚 Improved wellbeing through gardening, creativity, and time spent outdoors
• 🐝 Promoted environmental learning, biodiversity awareness, and sustainable practices
• 🤝 Built stronger community connections through shared experiences in nature

This programme is helping remove barriers to green space access while nurturing healthier, more connected lives.

Thriving in Nature is open to everyone.

Whether you would like to take part, volunteer, or support the programme, we welcome individuals and families from all backgrounds to join us in connecting with nature and community.

🌱 Join a Session

Our workshops are friendly, informal, and suitable for all ages and abilities.
No previous experience is needed, just come along, enjoy the outdoors, and take part at your own pace.

You can expect:

• Relaxed gardening and growing activities
• Creative nature-based workshops
• Wellbeing sessions and gentle outdoor movement
• Family-friendly trips and seasonal events
• Opportunities to meet new people and build friendships

📅 Sessions run monthly – follow us on Instagram for upcoming dates and details.

🤝 Volunteer With Us

We are always looking for volunteers to help support activities, welcome participants, and care for shared green spaces.

Volunteering is a great way to:

• Gain experience in community and environmental work
• Meet new people and build confidence
• Support local families and underserved communities
• Contribute to protecting and enjoying Banbury’s green spaces

No specialist skills are required, just enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved.

🌍 Partner or Support the Programme

We welcome collaboration with local organisations, schools, funders, and environmental groups who share our vision of improving wellbeing through nature-based engagement.

Together we can:

• Expand access to green spaces
• Deliver inclusive outdoor learning
• Strengthen community resilience and environmental stewardship

📩 Find Out More

To join a session, volunteer, or explore partnership opportunities, please contact us:

Sunrise Multicultural Project
📍 60 Orchard Way, Banbury, OX16 0EN
📧 Get in touch via our social media or speak to a member of the team at any session. 
Email: hello@sunrisemulticultural.org.uk