Children dig deep as mental health support group The Nest branches out with new home at Silver Leys Polo Club in Little Hadham
A new approach to mental health is taking root in Little Hadham, thanks to the efforts of primary pupils and secondary school students.
Children from Albury, Little Hadham, Much Hadham, Widford and Hunsdon joined members of Bishop’s Stortford’s Avanti Grange eco-club and young people from St Elizabeth’s Centre at Perry Green to plant more than 400 trees.
The Woodland Trust donated the saplings, including oak, silver birch, maple, rowan, willow and cherry, and almost 400 children helped to plant them at Silver Leys Polo Club over four days.
The venue is the new home of The Nest, a community interest company founded by River and Kimmie Taylor which provides award-winning mental health support.
Nest patron Martin Slade said: “The Nest is a free-to-attend talking circle for all genders struggling with modern life. Whether it’s with some form of mental health, drink or drugs, financial, relationships, bullying or loneliness – whatever the problem.”
After battling to find a permanent base for the yurt which hosts the talking circles, the organisation has found a new home “to feel safe, seen, heard and understood” at the 120-acre site.
Martin said: “As now one in five schoolchildren under the age of 16 suffer from some form of mental health issues, we wanted to encourage local children to connect to nature.”
The young participants were able to plant a tree with their name and dedicate it to someone special.
Martin said: “As The Nest has an ethos of putting love back into the hearts of people by connecting with nature, this was the perfect opportunity to do that and see their smiling faces as they enjoyed the day.
“Next year we are creating an organic allotment where we will invite the children back to plant and tend vegetables, to learn how to cook healthily and then cook and eat them.
“We intend to hold many events over the coming years to encourage children to enjoy our 120-acre community space.”
Bishop’s Stortford estate agent Mullucks sponsored the event, providing each child with an owl-themed pencil case set, and Sainsbury’s provided healthy refreshments.
The Nest team will be outside Sainsbury’s in Jackson Square, Bishop’s Stortford, on Tuesday December 3, from 10am to 4pm, to promote its talking circles.
Photos by Gerred Gilronan
