The sun came out for the formal Launch of the Highland Green Health Partnership on the 22nd of April 2019. More than 50 guests came to show support for the initiative ‘Think Health Think Nature’. The Provost, Councillors and senior officials from the partnership met with the community groups and volunteers in an afternoon filled with discussions, activity and laughter.
The Highland Hospice – Based nearby at Ness House, the hospice informally make use of the facilities at the Botanic Gardens while supporting people, their families and carers, living with an advancing, life shortening illness. www.highlandhospice.org
The High Life Highland Inverness Botanic Gardens were the chosen venue for the initiative due to their central location and abundance of health activities underway. Present on the day were the many groups that use the facilities including:
Support in Mind – The Distress Brief Interventions (DBI) project in Inverness is an innovative way of supporting people. A DBI is a time limited and supportive problem solving contact with an individual in distress. The team take referrals from frontline services for example; Police Scotland, Ambulance Service and GPs. www.supportinmindscotland.org.uk
Inverness Junior Botany Club – The club runs on a Saturday once a month and is for children aged between 8-12 years that are keen to learn more about plants and growing and wish to discover what happens behind the scenes at Scotland’s most northerly Botanic Garden. New members are always welcome. For more information and to book please contact inverness.botanics@highlifehighland.com
Cycling Without Age – A movement to help the elderly get back on their bicycles, using electric trikes a team of volunteers offer free bike rides to local nursing home residents. The Inverness group currently have 3 trikes and 30 volunteers. They work with 3 local care homes and the Highland Hospice and regularly come to visit the gardens. www.facebook.com/groups/CWAInverness CWA Scotland: http://cyclingwithoutage.scot
SIMBA -The SiMBA Tree of Tranquillity’s aim is to offer bereaved parents the opportunity to honour their baby in a simple, quiet way and will effectively ‘grow’ as leaves are added. To find out more please visit: www.simbacharity.org.uk
P4W Walks– a health walk initiative which aims to promote walking to people from all walks of life, especially to encourage those who are inactive to become active. A weekly walk takes place every Thursday 10.30am starting at the Botanic Gardens. https://www.p4w.org.uk
GROW Project – High Life Highland run this garden projects which is specifically designed for people with learning disabilities. Gardening is used as the vehicle for developing such skills due to the range and type of activity used within it. To find out more contact HLH on 01463 713553 or visit https://www.highlifehighland.com/inverness-botanic-gardens/training/
Also invited were representatives from the many and varied health & wellbeing initiatives underway in HIghland, including:
- Trees for Life – Outdoor Volunteering
- Moo Food – A Community Food growing Project with Mental Health project Flourish
- New Craigs Greenspaces Projects – 5 Ways Well Project
- The Cairngorms National Park Authority – Intergenerational walks
- High Life Highland Countryside Rangers – Pond Creation work with Schools
- Nature 4 Health – Nature Walks for Wellbeing
- Cycling Without Age – E-Trikes
- Active Travel – NHS Highland
- P4W Walk – Walking for Cardiac Rehabilitation
These were displayed in the greenhouse together with further local information alongside the refreshments. All case studies can now be viewed and read on your website www.thinkhealththinknature.scot
The Provost plants a ceremonial tree to mark the occassion 
Local Councillors show their support 
Initiatives Nature 4 Health, and Trees for Life hsare a joke with partnership member Margaret Somerville and Provost Helen Carmichael. 
Mick Heath from Cycling Without Age takes Margaret Somerville for a spin on his e-trike.
The event rounded off with a health walk along the canalside
More photos from the event can be found on our Flickr page.
