Wildlife shelter's 'amazing effect' on wellbeing

A wildlife shelter is helping people encounter nature and connect with each other and it is having an "amazing effect", organisers have said.

The shelter at Preesall and Knott End, Lancashire, has already helped locals with with "nature based wellbeing sessions".

Kirsty Tyler of The Bay, which is running the programme, said: "It's only been going two weeks and has become very popular."

The new shelter is situated in the Hope Community Care Hub's garden.

The Bay started out in Morecambe but its outreach has now taken in the Over Wyre area, Fleetwood and Thornton Cleveleys.

Ms Tyler said the community hub had been working with The Bay, The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and South Merseyside’s coastal wellbeing project which was set up in the aftermath of Covid to help people overcome, stress, isolation and loneliness.

"It is amazing the effect of being outdoors and how nature activities especially can help people feel better," she said.

"This can be anything from making bird feeders, completing wildlife surveys and doing bee-friendly planting."

The outdoor shelter will soon also be available for use by the whole community outside of the wellbeing sessions.

The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery has helped about 400 people experiencing poor mental health who have been prescribed nature therapy by GPs and other healthcare professionals.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to [email protected] and via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.