A huge thank you to all those who got involved with our Get Back to Nature campaign for Mental Health Awareness Week!

Spending time in nature has been found to help with mental health problems including anxiety and depression

We ran a week-long 'Get Back to Nature' campaign during Mental Health Awareness Week (10-16 May) to raise awareness about the benefits of nature to people's mental health and wellbeing.

The benefits of nature on our mental health are powerful, and even small interactions with nature can really help. With that in mind, we want to help inspire you to spend a little more time in nature, whether you live deep in the middle of the countryside or deep in the inner city.

Doing things like growing food or flowers, exercising outdoors or being around animals can have lots of positive effects, such as:

• improving your mood
• reducing feelings of stress or anger
• helping you take time out and feel more relaxed
• improving your physical health
• improving your confidence and self-esteem
• helping you be more active
• helping you make new connections

We asked for stories from local people about how nature has helped your mental health and to know how time in nature helps you!

Take a look at some of the things you sent in... 

Keen cyclist Harrison Read from Southampton has struggled with anxiety and depression from the age of 13. Last year he made an inspirational documentary interviewing people who had sought solace in cycling. Here he shares his story.

When a bike accident forced keen runner Rob Shenton to stop exercise, he had to draw on coping skills he had built up over the years to help him recover both mentally and physically. The army veteran, who is also a member of Southampton Athletics Club, says getting out in nature during his recovery helped lift him out of a potentially damaging low mood. Here, he shares his story.

Head of Social Enterprise at Mayfield Nurseries, Dan Angus, explores the messaging around connecting to nature, how it can be difficult for some and offers some tips for helping to get you started. Read it here..