Nature Connections Shetland

Today, we are delighted to be sharing a new resource launched to coincide with National Walking Month and Mental Health Awareness Week on our Healthy Shetland website. RSPB Shetland have recently developed “audio trails” which aims to provide a sound bite of some of Shetland’s nature friendly places. 💜

Connecting with and appreciating nature whilst out walking is another way of looking after ourselves. In Shetland we are lucky to have lots of natural scenery spots to walk and enjoy such as parks, beaches, hills and coastal walks. 🤲

These audios may come in handy when planning a visit to any of the locations, or provide a moment of mindfulness in nature that people can use anywhere at any time. 🍃

To access the audios simply go to our website and click on the pins on the map to listen: https://www.healthyshetland.com/shetland-audio-trails/



NHS Shetland

🫶🏼 This Thursday exactly when there looks to be a break in the weather 😃

While we are all watching the snow🌨 piling up outside, here's something to look forward to! Next week we are hosting a nature journal workshop with Shetland Amenity Trust. So come on down to Sumburgh head, and get your artistic🎨 brain working as Howard Towll guides you through nature journalling!

There is no fee but donations area always happily recieved. Booking is required so please contact us if you would like to attend.
[email protected]
01950 460800

Next session will be a celebration of the returning light and seasonal changes 🌱

Warm drinks, light snacks, stations to do nature-based crafts and expressive arts, an open fire, music, nature and wellbeing related books to look at and, if weather allows - we can have a slow & easy moment outdoors before we settle in.

I will share info on the benefits of connecting with nature (the science 🤓) and offer ideas on practices/activities to enhance this.

No knowledge on nature required. No artistic ability required. Just come as you are! 😊

Cost: £20 per person

Message me to book your space 😁

I look forward to seeing you there.

Colleen
🍄🖤🌿

Delting Winter Walk #9

I won’t be out for our walk tonight folks as I’m recovery from/have a tiring cold and although I often go out when I have a cold as it makes me feel better, I’m listening to my body on this one and, it’s telling me to ‘rest’ 😪🤧

I encourage others to go anyway and have a good stomp in the fresh & blustery evening air!!

Have a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!!

Colleen
🎄🌟🎅🏼

Delting Winter Walk #8

Everyone and anyone welcome to come for walk around Brae 6-7pm. Meeting at Brae schoool carpark bus shelter, leaving approx 6.05pm.

Fresh night air will be welcomed by me (for one) after a day in the office. ❄️😌🧤🧣🌌

Sorry, no pets.

I’ll see you if I see you!! 😁

Colleen
🌿🍄🌙

Delting Winter Walk #7

Brae school carpark, 6-7pm, tonight! 🤗

Come for a walk in the fresh crisp frosty air we’re having just now, and help ward off any winter bugs!! ❄️🤞🏼

Leaving the bus shelter at approx 6.05pm. Everyone welcome. Come alone or with a friend, have a yarn or wander silently along - it’s all good ✨✨

I’ll see you if I see you!

Colleen
🍄🌿🌙

Delting Winter Walk #6

Afternoon all, just a reminder that I will be setting out for a wander tonight 6-7pm from the bus shelter in the Brae School Carpark and that anyone and everyone is welcome to join me (sorry no pets 🐾❤️).

It’s a full moon tonight so if we’re lucky we might see her! 🙌🏼 🌝

I’ll see you if I see you!! 🤗

Colleen
🍄🌿🌙

Art by Hannah Willow

Last year my Christmas session was scuppered by wild weather!! ☃️❄️🙌🏼

I thought I’d try again to host a cosy, relaxed nature-based wellbeing session before Christmas 🎄❤️🕯️

The session will include warm drinks, light snacks, stations to do nature-based crafts and expressive arts, music, nature and wellbeing related books to look at and, if weather allows - we can have a slow & easy walk before we settle in.

I will share info on the benefits of connecting with nature (the science 🤓) and offer ideas on practices/activities to enhance this.

No knowledge on nature required. No artistic ability required. Just come as you are! 😊

Cost: £20 per person

Book your space by emailing:
[email protected]
Or message me on here 👍🏼✨
I look forward to seeing you there.

Colleen
🍄🖤🌿

Thought I’d start a peerie walking group if anyone wants to join…(it’s FREE)
I plan to start from the school most Mondays and if I’m not there others can still just go.
Might do the ‘Camp Shop Loop’, ‘Toy Toon Loop’, ‘Busta Loop’ a combination of all three and there’s the woodland 🌿🌲🌌
I love walking alone so I won’t be offended if no-one appears (takes more than that 😜) and if anyone wants to come, just turn up and we’ll take it from there 👍🏼🥾👟 Dress for your comfort and the weather - rain/hail/shine ☔️❄️🌦️☃️
First walk Monday 23rd October @ 6pm

Sorry but no dogs allowed on these ones as some folk not comfortable with them 🐶

Summer Holiday Family Session!!
🦆🐝🌊🐚

Come and enjoy nature and the outdoors at Spiggie Loch bird hide and Spiggie (Scousburgh) Sands 🦢🪶🦭✨

We will meet at the carpark at the Spiggie Loch bird hide. First visiting the hide to do some bird watching and to look at the lovely nature mural done by the RSPB, Gilly B and Shetland school children. We will then all wander across to the beach where I will have some activities planned and some time will be ‘free play’ and ‘exploration’ within the session.
I will be there to help keep time, encourage nature connection, and guide/be an outdoor first aider! 👍🏼 It will be a relaxed and most importantly FUN morning!!

An adult must accompany and be responsible for each family of children. I will oversee the group as a whole.

The closest public toilets are at Grutness Pier, over the hill (5-10 min drive) so, go before you come to the session….or go wild! I’ll bring some toilet roll and p**p bags for emergencies!! 😆🧻

£15 per family

Contact me directly to find out more, ask questions and book your space 🤗 Spaces are limited.

🕯🌟🎄❤️ What a lovely way to frame early decorators

L🖤VE!!! 🙌🏼

The Strangest Bird Sound in Shetland The sound of the Snipe is unmistakable, but how does this small bird make it? This video explains all. Big thanks to Wikipedia, Pete Ellis, Jim Nicolson and ...

Join me for a relaxing indoor session loosely based around the theme of Saint Lucia - a celebration of light 🌟🕯 and the coming of Christmas!

We will consider different nature-based practices for the winter months and have a go at some nature-based crafts whilst enjoying the warmth and each others company 🥐☕️🎄😌

A bit about St. Lucia….🕯
Saint Lucia Day or Saint Lucy's Day - is celebrated on the 13th December each year. It is celebrated in many European countries, but is most popular in the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland.

As Saint Lucia Day falls in wintertime in Europe, it is celebrated as a festival of light, and was probably a pagan festival that was adopted as a Christian celebration.
In the Julian calendar, the 13th December was also the longest day, however when the Gregorian calender was established, December 13th became the festival of lights. 🎄🕯✨🌟🎄

Saint Lucia was a Christian martyr who was reputed to have been the daughter of a wealthy Roman family in Sicily. She was a devout Christian who was devoted to helping the poor, and so she is the patron saint of the poor.
The legend is told that she was helping Christians who were hiding in catacombs, and wanting to have both hands free to carry supplies, she put candles into a crown so that she would still be able to see her way. This is why she is symbolised with a candle crown upon her head, and came to be associated with light.

NB: The evening itself has no religious overtones - I am just drawn to the celebration of light, I hope you are too 🌟🕯🎄Anyone and everyone welcome!

Message me to ask questions or book your space.

Much love,
Colleen
🌿🍄🖤

❤️🌟

🌟 ART THERAPY TASTER SESSIONS 🌟

If you've been wondering about art therapy for your child/young person but have been a little unsure about it, I am offering 30 minute taster sessions during the October break. This is an opportunity for your child to experience a one off session to get a flavour for whether art therapy might feel like the right fit for them.

If you're interested in booking a session, drop me an email at [email protected]

Feel free to share with your networks 😊

Happy Friday folks!
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

October Holidays Family Session!!
🍂🕷🎃🪵

Come and enjoy the outdoors at Kergord Woodland 🌲🍁🌳🍂

We will meet at the lay-by below Kergord Woods (there is an overspill option too). I will have some activities planned and some time will be ‘free play’ and ‘exploration’ within the session.
I will be there to help keep time, encourage nature connection, and guide/be an outdoor first aider! 👍🏼 It will be a relaxed and most importantly FUN morning!!

An adult must accompany and be responsible for each family of children. I will oversee the group as a whole.

The closest public toilets are at Bixter, over the hill (5-10 min drive) so, go before you come to the session. 🧻

£15 per family with 1-2 bairns
£20 per family with 3+ bairns

Contact me directly to find out more, ask questions and book your space 🤗

We're delighted to have David Wege giving us our first talk of the autumn/winter. Passionate birdwatcher, tracker, nature craft teacher, wildlife photographer, author and conservationist, David has had numerous visits to Shetland. His talk will help you think differently about wildlife in Shetland and beyond. You can find out more about our speaker at https://davidwegenature.uk/ or on instagram

If you've been out birding all day and need a refreshment, the Islesburgh Central Cafe closes at 7pm (you can take your drink through to the hall), but last orders for hot food is 6pm.

For those of you with ferries to catch, the talk will start at 7.30 and will last around 40mins with Q&A up to 8.30.

Shetland Community Wildlife Promote Shetland NorthLink Ferries Loganair RSPB Shetland Shetland Seabird Tours - The Noss Boat Nature in Shetland photo group Nature Connections Shetland Nature in Shetland

An invitation to come along and try some nature connection activities both outdoors (Brae beach & woodland) and indoors, in the warmth of the club room at the Brae Hall 🍂🐚✨🪶☕️

We will start with a gentle walk, returning to the hall to have a go at some nature-based creative arts, whilst relaxing and recharging our batteries.

All materials will be provided and are included in the cost. Just come dressed for the weather on the day 🥾🧣 and bring your own bottle of water in a backpack for the walk, if you wish.

The walk is easy but, has some uneven ground. If the weather is really wild (gale force and heavy rain!) we can agree as a group to have a full indoor session, if need be.

This session is for people aged 14 yrs and over.

Warm drinks and a light snack will be provided.

No knowledge or experience of nature, art or the outdoors is required. This is a space to just ‘experience’ and try out these things, in a relaxed & supportive atmosphere.

Cost: £40 per person
Time: 1300-1600 (3 hr session)
Place: Meet at Brae Hall Carpark

Please DM me to ask any further questions or to book yourself a space. I look forward to seeing you there!

Colleen
🍄🖤🌿

I am offering my first Forest Bathing experience at Kergord on Saturday 27th August, 10am-12pm (2hrs).

This is an opportunity to slow (way) down and connect with nature through your senses. 👂🏼👄👃🏼👁🤚🏼
(I will be gently guiding you through invitations/activities which will help with this - no actual bathing required! 💦)

Research shows that immersing ourselves in nature significantly improves physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Feeling connected with nature helps us feel connected with ourselves. When we are in this more ‘centred’ state, we are more resilient, more energised and less stressed.

Join me for a relaxing and restorative session amongst the trees and feel the many other benefits for yourself…
✨🌲🌿💚🌳🍃✨

Cost: £25 per person
Route: Pathless plantation on an incline, some stiles & rough bridges - good mobility required
Distance: 1-2 miles

DM to book, ask questions or for further information. No previous outdoor experience or knowledge required. 16 yrs +
Group size will be limited to 6 spaces

Summer Holiday Family Session ~ No.3 😎

Come and enjoy the outdoors at Voxter Centre! 🌲🪶🪲🌸🍂🪵
We will meet at the carpark behind Voxter House. I will have some activities planned and some time will be ‘free play’ and ‘exploration’ within the session.
I will be there to help keep time, encourage nature connection, and guide/be an outdoor first aider! 👍🏼 It will be a relaxed and most importantly FUN afternoon!!

An adult must accompany and be responsible for each family of children. I will oversee the group as a whole.

There will be access to a toilet and indoor space if required on the day.

£15 per family

Contact me directly to find out more and book your space 🤗