Woman with flowing hair sits with her back to the camera looking out at nature
Tim Horton

Wellbeing Programmes

We are offering a six week programme to experience the wellbeing benefits nature has to offer, within a group setting. Participants can be referred onto these sessions by a social prescriber or can self-refer through our options listed below on this page.  

Our 6-week programmes are free and designed for individuals who may be experiencing a lowered wellbeing, living with mental or physical health conditions, or are feeling lonely or isolated. Participants can be referred to these sessions by a social prescriber or can self-refer through our options on this page.   

Programmes are run on an ad-hoc basis in line with funding, but we try to ensure that there are programmes evenly spread across the county. 

When attending, please bring any refreshments you may want and wear suitable attire for the weather. Facilities and accessibility of the site can be checked on our reserve pages (which will be linked from the programme information), or a member of the Wilder Wellbeing team can answer any questions you may have.  

Contact us 

Our current and upcoming Wilder Wellbeing programmes

You can find our upcoming Wilder Wellbeing programmes below. You can also click through to find out more about the locations where we are holding each programme. To book onto any of these programmes, please click on the booking link below.

Booking form

Blean Wilder Kent Safari

Canterbury - Healthier Habits, Stop Smoking

A free, 6-week, Wilder Wellbeing programme at West Blean and Thornden Woods for adults who want to stop smoking and develop healthier habits. Consists of gentle walks and relaxation techniques to help you connect with nature and manage stress. Every Thursday 17th April-22nd May, 2-4pm.
Book your place
Pegwell Bay chalk grassland with view of white cliffs by Vicky Aitkenhead

Vicky Aitkenhead

Thanet - Healthier Habits, Stop Smoking

A free, 6-week, Wilder Wellbeing programme at Pegwell Bay for adults who want to stop smoking and develop healthier habits. Consists of gentle walks and relaxation techniques to help you connect with nature and manage stress. Every Friday 25th April-30th May, 10:30am-12:30pm.
Book your place

Find out more about our nature reserves
elmley national nature reserve

Isle of Sheppey - Elmley National Nature Reserve

For adults living on the Isle of Sheppey living with a physical or mental health condition. 6 week programme (across a 7-week period): Thursdays 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th April, and 8th, 15th May, 10.30am - 12.30pm. There is no session on 1st May as the reserve is closed to the public.

parent with young baby in nature smiling

Maidstone - Tyland Barn for new and expectant parents

For new and expectant parents. Enjoy the calming benefits of nature with your baby or bump, connect with other parents, learn relaxation techniques and try nature based crafts. Our final session of this programme will be 25 March, 12.30 - 2.30pm

Cross leaved heath at Hothfield Heathlands
Ian Rickards

Ashford - Hothfield

For adults residing in Ashford who are seeking to improve their mental and social wellbeing. 3 week programme: Wednesday 12, 19 and 26 March, 2pm - 4pm

A group of people, wearing walking gear, walking amongst green leafed trees
Tim Horton

Canterbury - Programme for adults caring for others

A free, six week Wilder Wellbeing programme for adults who are working in the NHS, or who are in a caring role (paid or unpaid). Sessions will include gentle walks, natural crafts, mindfulness and species ID within a small group setting, allowing you to experience the benefits of nature and improve and maintain your wellbeing. Sessions are every Wednesday from 7th May - 11th June, 10am-12pm.

A young person looking up at a canopy of woodland trees

Canterbury - Programme for students

A free, six week Wilder Wellbeing programme for those over 18 who are in education. Sessions will include gentle walks, natural crafts, mindfulness and species ID within a small group setting, allowing you to experience the benefits of nature and improve and maintain your wellbeing. Sessions are every Wednesday from 7th May - 11th June, 1-3pm.

View of Dover Castle from Coombe Down Nature Reserve
Shelagh Wright

Dover

A free, 6-week, Wilder Wellbeing programme in the Dover area for adults who want to spend time outside in nature to improve their wellbeing. Consists of gentle walks and relaxation techniques to help you connect with nature and manage stress. Sessions are every Tuesday: 10th June - 15th July 2025, 2:30-4:30pm.

Dungeness, photo by Jim Higham

Romney - Dungeness

A free, 6-week, Wilder Wellbeing programme at Dungeness for adults who want to spend time outside in nature to improve their wellbeing. Consists of gentle walks and relaxation techniques to help you connect with nature and manage stress. Sessions are every Tuesday: 10th June - 15th July 2025, 10am - 12pm.

A flowering field that has very low intensity summer sheep grazing to extend the flowering time of the grassland
Alison Ruyter

Sittingbourne - Milton Creek

A free, 6-week, Wilder Wellbeing programme at Milton Creek in Sittingbourne for adults who want to spend time outside in nature to improve their wellbeing. Consists of gentle walks and relaxation techniques to help you connect with nature and manage stress. Sessions are every Tuesday: 27th May - 1st July, 10am-12pm.

Wetland at Sandwich and Pegwell Bay, photo by Vicky Aitkenhead

Pegwell Bay

A free, 6-week, Wilder Wellbeing programme at Pegwell Bay for adults who want to spend time outside in nature to improve their wellbeing. Consists of gentle walks and relaxation techniques to help you connect with nature and manage stress. Sessions are on the following Wednesdays: 21st May, 11th June, 18th June, 25th June, and 2nd July and 9th July.

People’s experiences of our programmes

We totally understand wanting to read or hear about someone else’s experience before you commit to something! 

Here are a couple of useful resources to that end. 

Read about Sam’s experience 

Play video

Everyday Active

Trevor and John's story

You can watch Trevor and John's story of their Wilder Wellbeing experiences below. The programme Trevor & John attended was funded by Active Kent & Medway.

More information

Sessions are free, but you must have completed a registration form prior to joining a programme. These are not drop-in sessions, but 6-week programmes which we ask participants to attend in full (although we understand events such as sickness may occur) - this is so you can receive the full benefit of the programme to your wellbeing.  

Once this has been submitted, a member of the Wilder Wellbeing team will be in touch to discuss the course/s you'd like to join and book you on. Please note that filling in the generic enrolment form does not automatically book you onto the programme – you must have had contact with a member of the Wilder Wellbeing member to do this. Please do not turn up to a Wilder Wellbeing programme without confirmation. 

If you have any questions, or would like to register, please contact Nikki Cresswell, the Wilder Wellbeing Officer.  

Email us

Join us for a Weekend Wellness event

Our Weekend Wellness events are open to everyone. They can give you a small taster of what's offered during our Wilder Wellbeing programmes, or offer you the opportunity to do something for yourself during the weekend to boost your mental wellbeing!
Upward shot of beech trees against a blue sky
Lianne de Mello

Weekend Wellness: Forest Bathing in the Blean

Event
to

Soothe your body and mind on a guided, meditative walk through the woods, inspired by the Japanese practice of Forest Bathing- Shinrin Yoku.

A person's arms wrapped around a tree trunk.
© TWT

Weekend Wellness: Nature Retreat

Event
to

Immerse yourself in the natural world for a day of woodland inspired wellness, including healing forest bathing and calming crafting.