Connect

Connecting with others and building healthy relationships can remind you that you are valued by others. By joining one of our volunteer work parties or booking on one of our walks you’ll get to meet some like-minded people who love nature.

And on our Walk Wheel Ride site at our active travel hubs in Huddersfield, Holmfirth and Batley and Spen Valley you can find groups of people to … walk, wheel or ride with.

Be Active

There is a link between being active and positive mental health and active travel is all about getting active! Join a walk or get active with our volunteers. Or try an e-bike – our e-bike roadshows in 2024 were a revelation for many of the people who tried them- one told us “I have health problems, so cycling felt like something I’d lost. Now I feel like I can ride with my family again.” Another said, “I’m pre-diabetic and need more exercise. This has given me the confidence to spend active time with my son. Thank you!”

Take Notice

Paying more attention to the present moment, sometimes called mindfulness, can improve your mental wellbeing. Our volunteers, staff and directors have given years of love and care to natural places in Kirklees. By improving access to beautiful places, providing seating, signage and information boards we aim to create the conditions where you can experience some special moments in nature. Places where you can slow down, breathe and engage all your senses. Sometimes, you’ll be entertained by an awe-inspiring visitor, like the Red Kite you can see wowing our volunteers in the video below. Our volunteer co-ordinator and walk leaders all love sharing their knowledge with people and can help you notice more.

But you don’t have to be with us to enjoy the places we look after. Huddersfield Riverside Nature Park is open all the time and our walking maps can help you to find your way to some beautiful green spaces within Kirklees.

Keep learning

Learning new things can boost your self-confidence and improve your mental health. However much you know there is always something to learn and that’s certainly true with EPIKS! In 2024 we were joined for Wildlife walks by butterfly expert Paul Andrews from Butterfly Conservation, bat expert Seonaidh Jamieson, Huddersfield Canal Society’s Alan Stopher and of course our own resident ecologist Jeff Keenlyside. We’ve got more walks planned for 2025 – take a look at our Eventbrite here and see more opportunities to learn about wildlife.

And did we mention volunteering? Out and about with our volunteers you’ll learn new skills as well as learning about nature alongside our ecologists.

Give

That well-earned hot drink and biscuit at the end of a volunteer work party, the feeling of a job well done and some fab connections made… Evidence shows that acts of kindness can improve your mental wellbeing by giving you a sense of purpose. The scale of what’s needed can be overwhelming, but together we can make a difference.