Reset with Nature - 6 Week Wellbeing Programme - Durham Botanic Garden

🌿 Reset with Nature
A FREE 6-Week Wellbeing Programme for Parents & Carers

📍 Durham Botanic Garden
🗓 Fridays – 24th April to 5th June (no session Fri 29th May in half term)

10:30am – 1:00pm

Are you caring for others while running on empty yourself?

If you’re parenting or caring for adopted, looked after, or trauma experienced children or young people, you’ll know how overwhelming it can feel - constantly giving, with little space to rest or recover.

The daily challenges can feel relentless, and finding time for yourself isn’t always easy. But your wellbeing matters too.

Through the Trees CIC invites you to step into nature, slow down, and gently reconnect with yourself in a small, supportive group. This FREE 6-week wellbeing programme, guided by Kirstie, offers you space to breathe, restore your energy, and feel more like yourself again.

Each week we'll explore a different theme and sense through;

• Gentle, short guided walks in the beautiful Durham Botanic Garden and Houghall Woods
• Guided invitations or activities to help you connect to nature
• Forest Therapy and mindfulness practices rooted in nature
• Creative woodland crafts
• Opportunties to share and time to enjoy silence
• Delicious foraged teas, snacks—and cake!

Inspired by Shinrin-yoku (Forest Bathing) and grounded in forest medicine, this programme gives you the tools to pause, restore balance, and carry wellbeing practices into your everyday life.

• The 5 Pathways to Nature Connection
• Techniques to help reduce chronic stress, understand and support your nervous system
• The calming power of mindful presence
• Time and space to be creative
• Connection with others who truly understand your journey
• A chance to slow down, feel supported, and have fun
• Ways to support yourself beyond the 6 week programme
• Freedom to simply be yourself - without the responsibilities of caring for others

• Over 70% saw a significant improvement in their wellbeing
• Almost everyone felt more connected to nature
• Many moved from feeling overwhelmed to more calm, grounded, and able to cope
• Sessions supported deep relaxation and noticeable reductions in stress

“Let go and immerse yourself in the forest. Kirstie will take you to places you never knew existed. A great time and so relaxing.”
Paul, Foster Carer

“It’s such a beneficial experience — being in nature, learning about it, and connecting with other adopters and carers. It’s a safe space where no one is judged and we can just be ourselves.”
Sarah, Adoptive Parent

“By far the most beneficial thing we’ve done as adopters.”
Adoptive Parent

“I cannot recommend this programme highly enough. It’s so thoughtfully held, and I leave each week feeling less stressed and unburdened. It’s even inspired me to start walking in nature regularly.”
Michael, Adoptive Parent

No experience necessary. All materials are provided. We recommend attending at least 5 out of the 6 sessions to get the most from the experience. These programmes are popular and we always have a waiting list. Please consider if you can commit before booking.

We'd like to give priority to those who haven't experienced our 6 week programmes before. For those who have attended one before and would like to attend another - any remaining tickets will be released at 9.00am on Friday 10th April.

Understanding the Impact

As part of the programme, we’ll invite you to take part in some light, optional data collection to help us understand how the sessions support wellbeing. This is always done with your consent and kept to a minimum—just enough to help us, you, and our funders understand the programme’s impact.

Note: The Botanic Garden will be closed on Friday 5th June so this session will take place in Houghall Woods, adjacent to the Botanic Garden.

👥 Limited to 10 -12 participants to ensure a calm, personalised experience.
💚 Part of our Thrive with Nature programme, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund.

*If you have any dietary requirements, food allergies or intolerances please include on the booking form so Kirstie can cater for your needs. Items are prepared by Through the Trees in a home kitchen, registered as a food business with a 5 star hygiene rating.

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