Nature Makers Community Give Back Week 2025

When I founded Nature Makers, I knew that our work would extend far beyond just delivering wonderful classes for children. At our core, we believe that connecting with nature nurtures not only personal wellbeing but also a deep sense of responsibility towards our planet and each other.

During March, we celebrated Community Give Back Week. This was an opportunity for us to get into our local communities and make a real difference to those around us. 

Here are just a few of their inspiring stories:

Supporting Mental Health Through Nature Connection

Debbie in Wolverhampton ran a free Nature Makers session at Newhampton Arts Centre with NICS Wellbeing charity. Working with families impacted by mental health issues, she created a space where art therapy and mindfulness could flourish. Debbie also organised a local litter pick with Perton Parish Council members, contributing to their "Perton Prettiest Village" initiative—strengthening community pride while caring for the environment.

"One of the reasons I began my Nature Makers journey was to play a bigger role with my local community and to bring the core values of what we deliver to our local families," Debbie shared. Her community connections have led to new links with other organisations at The Newhampton Arts Centre, including a Health Centre with funding for school holiday family sessions.

Bridging Generations Through Creativity

Robyn ran a session for residents at a local care home where her mother-in-law resides. Working with residents, many living with dementia who don't get much stimulation or chance to be creative, she helped them create a communal collage of a Blue Tit using colours found in old magazines. Robyn also ran a free session at a children's nursery in an area of deprivation, where children with no access to natural outdoor space created their own Nature Wands from sticks, leaves, and cones she provided.

"Going into different settings and offering something different" was what Robyn enjoyed most about the experience. "I enjoyed seeing people benefiting and enjoying the sessions."

Creating Inclusive Craft Experiences

Elenor ran a session for Furness Homeless Support Group at their hub during the community giveback week. Together, they made spring decorations using wool/string and dried flowers. "I had already worked with the group so it was great to be back, see familiar faces and share some laughs," Elenor said. "The sense of pride and achievement amongst the group was brilliant to see."

In Surrey, Debbie helped at the Grassroots Project in Egham, a centre for disabled people to do making and growing of plants. Together, they created spring wreaths for the group to give as Mother's Day gifts.  Grassroots project are now providing their area for free for Debbie to run an after-school class for children in the community, for which we are so grateful!

Environmental Action and Education

Katherine and Nature Makers North of Tyne took part in the 'No Time For Waste' festival, which saw 800 people visit local eco stalls, attend talks, and engage in eco-friendly craft activities. The team took "collective action on problems like plastic pollution and climate change, signed petitions, educated children, shared waste reduction tips and raised awareness." They also reinvested some of their event earnings to pay for a table for Parents For Future North Tyneside.

Additionally, Nature Makers North of Tyne ran a special class at Wallsend Park to build a hedgehog ramp for their bowling green, ensuring hedgehogs who fall in can escape. They also joined the Great British Tidy Up litter pick in the park and have pledged to litter pick with their attendees after every Saturday family class at Wallsend Park going forward.

"No Time For Waste Festival was incredibly inspiring," Katherine reflected. "It gave me hope to see so many people and local groups working together to tackle serious issues in our community and country."

Creative Community Connections

Zsofi in Chichester partnered with South Coast Home Care, joining one of their free weekly social gatherings to run a short macramé workshop for their elderly customers. "It was a heartwarming hour filled with beautiful life stories, laughter, and creativity," Zsofi shared. "By the end, I could feel the energy in the room shift—proof that crafting can be so much more than just making something with our hands."

Zsofi also hosted a Big Nature Play Day at Graylingwell Chapel for the Chichester Community Development Trust. "They've supported me since the very beginning of my small business journey, so giving back to them in this small way felt truly special," she explained.

Supporting Local Families

Shelley organised a litter-pick at her local park, addressing the issue of rubbish accumulation in "a space without bins (or a bin collection)." She also made raffle donations to three local schools to help them fundraise for resources and facilities. Taking inclusivity to heart, Shelley reached out to a local elderly resident facility to discuss regular offerings, and because she couldn't provide this during the planned week, she sponsored three free spaces for her Friday class and offered a free term place to a family who would benefit from joining but lacked the financial means to do so.

The Rippling Impact of Giving Back

What's been most wonderful to witness is how these initial acts of giving have created ripples throughout our communities. Many local leaders have reported that their Give Back Week projects have sparked ongoing interest in community nature initiatives, with new partnerships forming and future projects already in planning.

I'm especially moved by how these activities have empowered children to see themselves as capable caretakers of our natural world. There's something profoundly hopeful about watching a child discover they can make a positive difference to their local environment. These early experiences of environmental stewardship plant seeds that will hopefully grow throughout their lives.

What We've Learned Together

This year's Give Back Week has reinforced some beautiful truths that I'd love to share:

1. Small, mindful actions create meaningful change: Even brief, focused activities like a woodland litter pick can transform both spaces and perspectives.

2. Children are natural environmental champions: Given the opportunity, children show remarkable care and enthusiasm for protecting nature. Their innate compassion often inspires adults to reconnect with their own sense of wonder and responsibility.

3. Nature brings people together: We've seen how shared experiences in nature create genuine connections between people who might otherwise never meet.

4. Our Nature Makers community is extraordinary: I feel incredibly grateful to work alongside such compassionate, creative team leaders who bring our shared values to life in their communities every day.

   
   
   
   

Looking Ahead with Hope

This year's Give Back Week has filled my heart with hope and inspiration. We'll certainly continue this annual tradition, and we're also exploring ways to support our local groups in establishing more regular community nature projects throughout the year.

To everyone who participated in our Give Back activities, thank you. You have made such a difference to your local communities. If you have a group that could benefit from next year’s Community Give Back Week, get in touch with your local provider.

We'd love to hear about your own experiences with community give-back week. Did you have a Nature Makers provider visit you? Let us know in the comments.

#NatureMakers #CommunityGiveBack #EcoFriendly #MindfulPlay