The Wild Cure: Mama Nature’s Recipe for Mental Wellbeing

Nature has an incredible ability to comfort and heal. It can help us connect to something bigger, and allows us to see the world and our lives in new ways.

Spending time in natural environments, whether in forests, parks, or by the sea, has been linked to lower levels of anxiety, depression, and psychological distress. Nature provides a soothing and restorative environment, promoting relaxation, mindfulness, and a sense of connection to the world around us, ultimately fostering improved mental wellbeing.

In this talk, Freya Bromley and Marchelle Farrell will draw upon their combined expertise in psychology, eco-therapy, and holistic wellness to explore the profound impact of nature on mental health and wellbeing.

They will share their insights on the restorative power of natural environments, offering guidance on how to cultivate a deeper connection with the earth and its healing energies.

Freya Bromley’s memoir The Tidal Year charts a journey of desires, losses and longing as she swims every tidal pool in mainland Britain after her brother’s death. As Freya travels further from home, she finds herself closer to memories of her brother. With every swim, and every stranger they meet in the water, the challenge becomes more than just a way to explore the coast, but a journey of self-discovery.

Marchelle Farrell is a therapist, writer and amateur gardener whose recently published book Uprooting: From the Caribbean to the Countryside – Finding Home in an English Country Garden explores what it means to be the only black woman in her village and centres around one question – what is home? Full of hope and healing, Uprooting is a book about finding home where we least expect it, and which invites us to reconnect to the land – and ourselves.