Coventry, United Kingdom
City population: 316926
Duration: 2017 – ongoing
Implementation status: Ongoing
Scale: Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Project area: unknown
Type of area: Protected Area, Natural Heritage Area/Untouched nature, Public Greenspace Area
Last updated: October 2021

“The Environment and Me project (TEaM) is operated by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and CWMind (Coventry and Warwickshire Mind) and supported by Coventry City Council. (Ref. 1) It is an ecotherapy-based project which aims to enhance mental health and wellbeing. (Ref. 1, Ref. 2). It provides opportunities for outdoor activities at allotment sites, gardens, woodlands, parks and nature reserves – giving people some much-needed breathing space in the fresh air, whilst learning new skills, meeting new people and giving back to nature.” (Ref. 1)

TEaM 1
Source: Ref. 1

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Parks and urban forests
  • Large urban parks or forests
  • Other
  • Community gardens and allotments
  • Allotments
  • Community gardens
  • Blue infrastructure
  • Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries

Key challenges

  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
  • Social interaction
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Enabling opportunities for physical activity
  • Improving mental health
  • Improving physical health
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation

Focus

Maintenance and management of urban nature, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Other

Project objectives

The Environment and Me (TEaM) is an ecotherapy-based project that aims to enhance mental health and wellbeing through positive, engaging outdoor experiences in local green spaces for adults throughout Coventry.

Implementation activities

The ecotherapy-based project (TEaM) provides positive, engaging outdoor activities at allotment sites, gardens, woodlands, parks and nature reserves, which enable participants to learn new skills, meet new people, and strengthen their connection to nature. These activities include (i) planting, growing and harvesting food and flowers; (ii) learning about nature and wildlife; (iii) seasonal crafts and woodwork; (iv) walks and talks; and (v) socializing with other TEaM members. (Ref. 1) Additionally, a roaming conservation group has been established as part of TEaM (Ref. 2) TEaM started delivering sessions in May 2017 and continues to offer services for adults in Coventry, especially for those "experiencing anxiety or depression; diagnosed with a moderate/severe mental health condition; who feel lonely or isolated; who have low self-esteem/confidence; who have been signed off of work due to poor mental health." (Ref. 1, 2)

Main beneficiaries

  • Citizens or community groups
  • Marginalized groups: People with functional diversities

Governance

Management set-up

  • Led by non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Non-government organisation/civil society
  • Private foundation/trust
  • Citizens or community group
  • Other

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
  • Dissemination of information and education
  • Other

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The Environment and Me project (TEaM) is a partnership between Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (WWT) (The Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is a Wildlife Trust and Registered Charity), Coventry and Warwickshire Mind (CWMind) (a local mental health charity affiliated to ‘Mind’: the leading mental health charity in England & Wales) and is supported by Coventry City Council. (Ref. 1,2,4) TEaM is operated by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and CWMind. (Ref. 1)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Unknown

Financing

Total cost

€100,000 - €500,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget
  • Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
  • Private Foundation/Trust
  • Other

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget
  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)

Non-financial contribution

Type of non-financial contribution
  • Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
  • Citizens (e.g. volunteering)

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Safety
  • Increased perception of safety
  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Increased opportunities for social interaction
  • Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Improved mental health
  • Education
  • Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
  • Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts, Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Yes

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

Yes

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

Yes

References

Ref. 1. CW Mind. (n.d.). TEaM (The Environment and Me). Coventry and Warwickshire. (Accessed: 14 Aug 2020).
Ref. 2. The Wildlife Trusts. (n.d.). The Environment and Me (TEaM). Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. (Accessed: 14 Aug 2020).
Ref. 3. CW Mind. (n.d.). Join us for The Environment and Me Project launch. Stories & Events, Latest News. Coventry and Warwickshire. (Accessed: 14 Aug 2020).
Ref. 4. CW Mind. (n.d.). About us. Who we are. Coventry and Warwickshire. (Accessed: 14 Aug 2020).
Ref. 5. Coventry City Council. (n.d.). Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). Health and wellbeing. (Accessed: 14 Aug 2020).
Ref. 6. CareQuality Commission (2016) Coventry & Warwickshire Mind. Inspection report. November, 2016. (document provided)
Ref. 7. The Wildlife Trusts. (n.d.). About Us. Who we are. (Accessed: 14 Aug 2020).
Ref. 8. The National Lottery Community Fund. (n.d.). About the National Lottery Community Fund. The National Lottery Community Fund. (Accessed: 14 Aug 2020).
Ref. 9. Coventry City Council. (2008). Evidence base – Green infrastructure study. Coventry City Council. (Accessed: 14 Aug 2020).
Ref. 10. The Wildlife Trusts. (n.d.). Wild Wellbeing. Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. (Accessed: 14 Aug 2020).
Ref. 11. The Environment and Me. (TEaM). (2020). TEaM Up! Newsletter: Issue 20. (Accessed: 14 Aug 2020).
Ref. 12. The Environment and Me. (TEaM). (2020). TEaM Up! Newsletter: Issue 1. (Accessed: 14 Aug 2020).
TEaM 2
Source: Ref. 1
TEaM 3
Source: Ref. 2
TEaM 4
Source: Ref. 2