Cheshire East Council home page
  • Audio icon Translate icon Listen and translate
  • Account icon My account
Banner Image for Green Spaces

Green Spaces for Wellbeing

Nature can do wonders for the mind and body. Especially with our range of weekly activities; from simple nature walks, environmentally friendly gardening to wildlife surveys and creative workshops. See how wildness can help your wellness.

Join Green Spaces for Wellbeing

Green Spaces Logo

Our friendly and welcoming group can help you to build your confidence, meet people locally, discover different interests, practice mindfulness, learn new skills, and give back to your local community.

Sign up

The free-of-charge programme is for adults 18+ and runs over 12 weeks. You can choose the activities that match your interests and time available. See our activity themes below.

Garden and Grow

gardenAndGrowDiscover wildlife friendly gardening.
gardenAndGrowGet involved in planting, sowing seeds, weeding and maintaining beautiful spaces.
gardenAndGrowLearn about plants and support local wildlife.
Someone working with plants.

Active Outdoors

active logoJoin local walks where you’ll explore parks and open spaces, discover nature on your doorstep and get active.
active logoTry new outdoor activities with our friendly group.
People enjoying Congleton park.

Creative Connections

creativeConnectionsExplore nature through photography, mindfulness activities, art and crafts.
creativeConnectionsJoin recycling workshops, make bird boxes, and share in talking cafes.
Some people in a snowy park.

Food Growing

foodGrowingJoin us to grow vegetables, fruit, and herbs.
foodGrowingDiscover wild cooking and harvesting while learning about pollinators and creating homes for nature.
Some people working in an allotment.

Habitat Management

habitatManagementPlant trees, create wildflower meadows, and maintain paths.
habitatManagementCreate hedgehog homes and bird feeders; and learn about how to help local wildlife.
A hedgehog in his hedgehog home.

Wildlife Surveying

wildlife surveyingLearn how to identify different species and how to help nature thrive.
wildlife surveyingMonitor local wildlife by surveying butterflies, birds, plants and much more.
A kingfisher.

Your journey with us

Welcome meeting

  • Meet the team
  • Find out more about the programme
  • Talk through your goals
  • Discuss any support that you need

Activities

  • Join 12 sessions, held once a week
  • Check-in with us at 6 weeks on how the programme is going
  • Introductions to other groups and initiatives

Review & next steps

  • Talk about your experience
  • Create a follow-up plan
  • Join ongoing meet-ups and volunteering
  • Discuss other groups and initiatives that could help you

About Us

We are a partnership between Ansa, the NHS, Cheshire East Council, Everybody Health and Leisure, and the voluntary sector.

The programme is starting in Crewe in November 2022 and Macclesfield in January 2023, before we widen the offer across Cheshire East in Spring 2023.

Designed around the Five Ways to Wellbeing, our nature-based activities help prevent and tackle mental ill health; and support people with long-term health conditions.

Sign up

To sign-up, complete the form on the Everybody website or phone 01270 685589.

If you're a social prescriber then you can send us a referral using ReferAll. To set up an account, email us on ebhealthy@everybody.org.uk.

For any other queries, email us on greenspaces@ansa.co.uk.

Crewe Timetable

 TuesdayWednesdayFridaySaturday
am

9.30am – 11.30am

Garden and Grow

Queen's Park, Crewe

9.30am – 11.30am

Garden and Grow*

Queen's Park, Crewe
pm

1pm – 3pm

Active Outdoors

Queen's Park, Crewe

1pm – 3pm

Creative Connections

Queen's Park, Crewe

1pm – 3pm

Habitat Management*

Queen's Park, Crewe

1pm – 3pm

Creative Connections*

Queen's Park, Crewe

* Friday afternoon and Saturday sessions start from the end of January.

Macclesfield Timetable

 WednesdayThursdayFriday
am

9.30am – 11.30am

Garden and Grow

Pavilion, Macclesfield Leisure Centre
pm

1pm – 3pm

Habitat Management

Workshop, Victoria Park, Macclesfield

1pm – 3pm

Creative Connections

Pavilion, Macclesfield Leisure Centre

1pm – 3pm

Active Outdoors

Café, West Park, Macclesfield

Note: we will add Saturday sessions in the near future alongside evening sessions at the end of April.