Life on the Edge delivers successful project with Devon Mind

Life on the Edge, a heritage lottery funded project of the South Devon National Landscape, is working hard to partner with community organisations across the South Hams in order to deliver its overall objective of a ‘landscape buzzing with wildlife’.

Over the past 6 months, the project has trialled some work in partnership with Devon Mind. After a well-attended initial information session which combined an introduction to our project with a craft session, the collaboration delivered a series of table-top craft activities in which the participants learnt about our focus species and their importance for the habitat around Wembury where we were based.

Following the success of these sessions, 6 more sessions were delivered that were much more focused on delivering practical change. These included some bug hunting, surveying and bee-bank making. To celebrate the participants’ involvement, the programme culminated with a foraging and cooking event. Participants report a notable increase in their level of awareness about the insect life in the area, and having had a great deal of fun, but they also report a marked contribution to their emotional wellbeing.

The safe and supportive environment was a key factor that encouraged people to return to multiple sessions. It is this value to individual’s emotional wellbeing that Devon Mind were hoping to foster and is why they were keen to partner with Life on the Edge. The success of this partnership now means that the two organisations are keen to continue working together to connect people to nature and value the landscape around them. Life on the Edge currently has a series of walks in the Kingsbridge area that is co-promoted with Devon Mind and there is hope that a new series of craft and conservation activities will be delivered in the Kingsbridge area next year.

To find out more about Life on the Edge and its activities, visit: South Devon National Landscape