Nature project helps autistic young people and families de-stress

Autistic children and their families have said an ‘amazing’ nature-based project has helped them make friends and manage stress.

More than 30 young people and families joined the weekly Engaging with Nature project in Maidenhead this summer.

It involves exploring wild spaces and enjoying nature-based activities, such as making butterfly feeders and tree bark rubbing.

Run by Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT), the sessions aimed to teach young people and their families about wildlife.

The aim is to give them the mental and physical health benefits of spending time in green spaces and inspire them to take action for nature.

米歇尔·韦伯加入了课程与她的丈夫ndrew and their son Matthew, who both have autism, and their daughter Amelia who is on the diagnosis pathway.

“This has been the easiest summer holiday we have had,” Michelle said.

“In a neurodiverse household, the holidays are usually quite tricky – the kids lack the routine of school and spend too much time on screens.

“Having something like this has been a pinpoint in our week and they know what to expect.

“Our daughter has been writing down all the things she’s been learning every week. She's been very inspired.”

Matthew added that events like these helps him ‘forget about all the stress of autism.’

“My life is very chaotic with school starting and everything – this has taken my mind off that,” he said.

The children who joined the six summer sessions are all regulars at The Autism Group social clubs in Maidenhead.

BBOWT is running more sessions with the group this autumn and winter.

The sessions are based at Braywick Heath Nurseries and BBOWT was given funding to run the Engaging with Nature sessions by Maidenhead and Windsor’s Climate Partnership.

BBOWT project officer Clare Hegarty has also been running similar sessions with Furze Platt Junior School in Maidenhead, Thames Hospice in Windsor and Maidenhead charity Re:Charge, which runs drop-ins for families and children.

BBOWT hopes to continue the Engaging with Nature project in the borough next year but more funding is needed.