Supporting mental wellbeing with green spaces at Solidarity Farm
People more often think of green spaces as being in urban setting, yet some consider farms a type of green space to visit to get away from the busyness of everyday life. Farms have large isolated green spaces that have a multitude of benefits towards wellbeing.
Scientists have confirmed that human interaction is linked to mental and physical health, describing that connection to nature can release serotonin. Green spaces can improve the seven senses in young people. You’ve read correctly the seven senses. There’s the main senses; sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. Also there are vestibular (movement) and proprioception (body position).
The Body and Mind Working Together
Located in the inner ear, the vestibular system tells the brain where the body is in relation to motion and gravity and helps us maintain coordination and spatial orientation. In young people, green spaces especially encourage more physical play. So, climbing on trees or swinging on a hammock encourages balance, body awareness and equilibrium improvement.
The proprioceptive sense tells us where our body parts are in relation to each other. It allows us to calibrate how much strength to use for each task. For instance, animal care tasks provides joint awareness and controlled movements. Stimulating both these senses, as well as the other senses, improves body awareness, balance, and physical health which closely connects to mental health. Solidarity Farm provide a lot of sensory experiences and hands on engagement that are unlike indoor activities.
Emotional and Reflective Benefits
Being in nature can release various positive emotions, feelings of awe and gratitude for the beauty of nature, as well as soothing and grounded feelings. Another feeling is perspective, where problems can feel smaller compared to the vastness of landscapes in front of you. It can encourage reflection, giving people a chance to pause and process emotions in a safe environment.
At Solidarity Farm, we believe that nature can be an active participant in learning and personal development. By providing access to green spaces, we give young people the tools to manage stress, build resilience, and regain connectivity to their surroundings.
