By pupils of George Dixon International School

Funded by the Big Lottery, Spring to Life coordinated community artists to help people from the heart of Birmingham in Ladywood B1 and South West Edgbaston, to construct and paint art inspired by nature and wildlife from the locality and from a nearby allotment.  The work was exhibited at the local community centre, attracting local people to see the local talent.  Local Primary Schools were also encouraged to contribute by creating autumn displays called ‘Nature on a plate’.

Nature Exchange Tables can be found at Karis Medical Centre forecourt for people to ‘bring and share’ natural objects, excess produce, etc.

Sculpture at Ladywood Health & Community Centre

Ten 4ft x 4ft paintings by local residents and two local schools, inspired by nature, were installed beside the Tower Ballroom at Edgbaston Reservoir on Friday 28th May .  Look out for them next time you walk around the reservoir.

Spring to Life aims to ‘grow well-being’.  We believe that getting out into natural surroundings really helps us feel better. Noticing the natural beauty on our own doorsteps is so important not only for well-being but also in raising pride in our neighbourhoods.  This project aimed to help build community as well as local people’s interest in nature and the growing environment.  We think it succeeded!

Purple Flowers

Philippa ran the project and can be contacted at philippa@springtolife.org

Our staff know the benefits of getting outside and growing things!  People’s well-being is raised by being in the natural environment.

We encourage community gardening projects, school vegetable gardens, allotment gardening, and even walks in the nearby countryside.

If you have a ‘green idea’ that inspires you and you need help to develop it please give us a call we’d love to see if we can help.

This 6 session x 2 hours course helps people to increase their well-being and discover a more relaxed approach to life. It has been delivered to many small groups of 5 – 10 people with good success. The safe, friendly atmosphere encourages people to share and discuss stress and how it can blight our lives. Many techniques to overcome stress are practiced during the course along with ways to increase peace of mind and live a calmer life.

If you know of a demand for this course such as at your GP’s practice, library, health centre, or other organisation, and a room is available to run this course please contact us.

All Being Well has funded Spring to Life to run a number of Stress-Less Courses in Ladywood, Birmingham. The present one is being run on Monday evenings and the next one will run on Wednesday mornings from 3rd June.

Philippa says, “It is lovely to meet with people who want to make positive changes in their lives. The Stress-Less Course teaches how stress affects us and how we can manage it to gain better well-being. Life can never be stress-free but where we learn to understand it and handle it successfully it can work for us and not against us”.