Thriving In Nature programme in partnership with Bridge Street Gardens

Thriving in Nature is Sunrise Multicultural Project’s nature-based wellbeing programme, delivering monthly workshops, outdoor learning, experiences and trips and community gardening opportunities for residents of Banbury’s most deprived wards, Grimsbury, Neithrop, and Ruscote.

These neighbourhoods experience significant health inequalities, limited access to quality green space, and higher levels of social and economic disadvantage. Many residents live in overcrowded housing or temporary accommodation with little opportunity to experience nature. Our programme directly addresses these barriers by creating accessible, culturally inclusive opportunities to connect with the outdoors, improve wellbeing, and build community belonging.

Through hands-on activities at Britannia Road Children’s Centre and Bridge Street Community Garden, participants experience nature not as a luxury, but as an essential part of healthy living.

Health data shows that residents in these wards report lower levels of “very good health” compared to national averages, with disproportionately high rates of:

• High blood pressure and cholesterol
• Obesity and heart disease
• Poor mental health linked to isolation and poverty

Despite nearby parks, many families face practical, cultural, or financial barriers to accessing green spaces. Nationally, people from ethnically diverse backgrounds are also less likely to benefit from nature-based wellbeing opportunities.

Our workshops support:

• Mental wellbeing through calm, creative outdoor experiences
• Physical health through gentle movement, gardening, and fresh air
• Social connection by bringing people together in safe, welcoming spaces
• Confidence-building for individuals who may never have gardened or visited natural spaces before

Participants often tell us they leave feeling calmer, happier, and more connected.

“I feel refreshed being outside, it uplifts me.”
“It is de-stressing coming and forgetting about your problems.”

Thriving in Nature responds directly to the health inequalities and limited access to green space experienced by residents in Grimsbury, Neithrop, and Ruscote. Early delivery has demonstrated strong demand for culturally inclusive, accessible outdoor provision.

Participants report improved mood, reduced stress, and a sense of belonging after attending sessions. Many beneficiaries had never previously taken part in gardening, visited natural environments, or engaged in structured wellbeing activities.

The programme successfully combines:

• Nature-based social prescribing approaches
• Practical environmental education
• Creative wellbeing activities
• Community-led engagement

By addressing social isolation alongside environmental awareness, Thriving in Nature contributes to both public health improvement and local green space stewardship, aligning with Oxfordshire’s wider sustainability and wellbeing priorities.Our monthly workshops combine practical skills, creativity, and wellbeing.

Our activities include:

🌾 Allotment Growing & Seasonal Gardening

Participants get a chance to learn how to grow food, understand seasonal cycles, and care for plants, often for the first time. Sessions include building raised beds, planting vegetables, and maintaining shared spaces.

At Sunrise Multicultural Project, our Allotment Growing & Seasonal Gardening sessions give participants the opportunity to reconnect with the land, learn practical food-growing skills, and experience the wellbeing benefits of nurturing plants from seed to harvest,  often for the very first time.

Delivered at Britannia Road and in partnership with Bridge Street Community Garden, these sessions provide hands-on learning in a supportive, informal environment.

🌱 What Participants Do

• Build and maintain raised beds and planters
• Learn how to sow seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest crops
• Grow seasonal vegetables, herbs, and flowers
• Understand soil care, composting, and sustainable gardening methods
• Take part in watering, weeding, and caring for shared spaces
• Learn how growing cycles change throughout the year

Participants are encouraged to work together, share knowledge from their own cultures, and grow produce that reflects the diverse communities we serve.

🌼 Why It Matters

Many of our beneficiaries live in homes without gardens or access to safe outdoor space. These sessions provide:

• Opportunities to spend time outdoors in a calm, therapeutic setting
• Practical skills that support healthier eating and food confidence
• Gentle physical activity that improves mobility and wellbeing
• A sense of ownership, achievement, and routine
• Social connection through shared tasks and teamwork

Our Allotment Growing and Seasonal Gardening sessions continue to provide a welcoming and hands-on space for women and children to learn, connect, and engage with nature.

During our February sessions, participants took part in a variety of practical activities including making bird feeders using natural materials such as apples, seeds, sticks and string, planting sunflower seeds in decorated pots to take home, and thinning out radish plants to support healthy growth. All materials, including compost, seeds and pots, were provided, ensuring the session remained fully accessible to everyone.

The session saw a strong turnout, with 13 women and 7 children attending. Children enjoyed decorating their own plant pots and planting sunflower seeds, while the women developed their gardening knowledge and skills through planting and crop care activities.

Participants responded very positively to the session, with one attendee sharing: 

“I enjoyed making the bird feeders, I will look out for the birds.”

Overall, the session supported mental wellbeing, skill-building, and social connection, offering a calm and inclusive environment where participants could learn new skills, spend time outdoors, and build relationships within the community.

Gardening is widely recognised as beneficial for mental health, helping to reduce stress, improve mood, and build resilience through purposeful activity.

🌍 Learning Sustainability in Practice

Participants also explore environmentally friendly approaches such as:

• Growing food locally to reduce environmental impact
• Reusing materials to create planting spaces
• Supporting pollinators through wildlife-friendly planting
• Understanding how seasonal food connects to climate and nature

💚 Growing More Than Food

These sessions are not just about gardening, they are about growing confidence, friendships, and a sense of belonging. Watching something flourish under their care gives participants pride and motivation, while strengthening their connection to both community and environment.

🧘 Nature-Based Wellbeing & Gentle Exercise

Outdoor Thai-Chi, yoga, stretching, and mindful movement sessions designed especially for women and individuals who may not access mainstream fitness environments.

🎨 Creative Environmental Workshops

Hands-on activities using natural materials such as:

• Nature crafts and journaling
• Natural dyeing and textiles
• DIY self-care products like scrubs and lip balms
• Ecology-inspired art and photography

🚶‍♀️ Wellbeing Walks & Nature Connection

Gentle guided walks, scavenger hunts, and sensory activities encouraging mindfulness, confidence, and exploration of local green spaces.

🤝 Who Benefits

Our programme supports a wide range of local residents, including:

• Women facing cultural isolation or economic hardship
• Refugees and asylum-seeking families living in temporary accommodation
• Children with limited access to safe outdoor play
• Men experiencing loneliness or poor mental health
• Low-income households unable to access wellbeing activities
• Individuals recovering from trauma, displacement, or crisis

We create spaces that are:
✔ Culturally sensitive
✔ Free and accessible
✔ Safe for beginners
✔ Focused on belonging, not barriers

🌍 Caring for Our Environment Together

Thriving in Nature also encourages environmental stewardship. 

Participants learn about:

• Biodiversity and pollinator-friendly planting
• Reducing litter and caring for shared spaces
• Sustainable growing and seasonal food
• Local wildlife and ecology

By involving residents directly, we are nurturing a new generation of community caretakers of Banbury’s green spaces.

🌼 Our Aims

Thriving in Nature supports Sunrise Multicultural Project’s wider mission to:

• Reduce isolation and strengthen community integration
• Improve physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing
• Support refugees and families in transition
• Provide inclusive spaces for connection and learning
• Empower people with life skills, confidence, and resilience
• Encourage long-term engagement with nature and volunteering

✅ This is more than gardening.
It is about health, hope, and belonging ensuring everyone, regardless of background or income, can experience the healing power of nature.