The Environment and Me

1. General information

Location and description of the intervention

City or FUA

Coventry

Region

Europe

Native title of the NBS intervention

The Environment and Me (TEaM)

Short description of the intervention

“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)

Address

Coventry
United Kingdom

Location

The NBS is a city-wide initiative, the GIS point marks the centre of the city

Type of area before implementation of the NBS

Protected Area

Natural Heritage Area/Untouched nature

Public Greenspace Area

Website of the intervention

https://www.cwmind.org.uk/team-the-environment-and-me

Timeline of intervention

Start date of the intervention (planning process)

2017

Start date of intervention (implementation process)

2017

End date of the intervention

ongoing

Present stage of the intervention

Ongoing

Please specify "other" stage of the intervention

The project was launched in May 2017. (Ref. 2, 3)
The project is also part of 'Coventry and Warwickshire Mind', a local mental health charity affiliated to ‘Mind’ (the leading mental health charity in England & Wales), which has been developing and delivering quality services with, and for, people with mental health problems for almost 50 years. (Ref. 4)

2. Objectives of the intervention

Goals of the intervention

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.

Quantitative targets

In 2017, TEaM aimed to work with 300 people experiencing mental ill health over three years (Ref. 2, [figure not located in 2020 review])

Monitoring indicators defined

Number of people worked with experiencing mental health issues (Ref. 2, [not located in 2020 review])

Sustainability challenge(s) addressed

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

Please specify "other Type of NBS project"

Environmental Health (Ref. 1, 2)

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)

Type of NBS project

Maintenance and management of urban nature

Knowledge creation and awareness raising

Other

3. NBS domains, ES and scale

NBS domain and interventions

Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented

Parks and urban forests

Large urban parks or forests

Other

Community gardens and allotments

Allotments

Community gardens

Blue infrastructure

Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries

Please specify "other parks or (semi)natural urban green area"

The project "will provide outdoor activities at allotment sites, gardens, woodlands, parks and nature reserves". (Ref. 1)

Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens

Unknown

Vegetation Type

Flower beds

Garden beds

Other

Amenities offered by the NBS

Educational and research amenities (nature protection centre, monitoring stations)

Services

Expected ecosystem services delivered

Provisioning services

Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)

Cultural services

Aesthetic appreciation

Inspiration for culture, art and design

Recreation

Mental and physical health and wellbeing

Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)

Physical and experiential interactions with plants and animals

Social and community interactions

Please specify "other cultural service"

One of the objectives is "giving back to nature" (through outdoor activities, e.g. allotments/gardens). (Ref. 1, 2)

Scale

Spatial scale

Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level

Beneficiaries

Primary Beneficiaries

Citizens or community groups

Marginalized groups

People with functional diversities

4. Governance and financing

Governance

Governance arrangements

Led by non-government actors

Non-government actors

Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches

Other

Please specify other non-government actors involved

charity: Coventry and Warwickshire Mind (CWMind) (a local mental health charity affiliated to ‘Mind’: the leading mental health charity in England & Wales) (Ref. 1,2,4)

Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative

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)

Key actors - initiating organization

Non-government organisation/civil society

Private foundation/trust

Citizens or community group

Other

Please specify other key actors – Initiating organization

charity: Coventry and Warwickshire Mind (CWMind) (a local mental health charity affiliated to ‘Mind’: the leading mental health charity in England & Wales) (Ref. 1,2,4)

Land owners

No information found

Please specify other Key actors - Other stakeholders involved

charity: Coventry and Warwickshire Mind (CWMind) (a local mental health charity affiliated to ‘Mind’: the leading mental health charity in England & Wales) (Ref. 1,2,4)

Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)

Local government/municipality

Non-government organisation/civil society

Private foundation/trust

Other

Please specify other participatory methods

work with individuals directly: The Wildlife Trusts are formed by groups of active people, and the trusts work to connect local people to nature thus enabling them to take action where they live, i.e. each of the local Wildlife Trusts (e.g. Warwickshire Wildlife Trust) work with individuals. (Ref. 7)

Land owners

No information found

Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used

Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)

Dissemination of information and education

Other

Policy drivers

NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy

Unknown

NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan

Unknown

NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan

Unknown

Mandatory or voluntary intervention

Voluntary (spontaneous)

Please specify other type of voluntary intervention

The project focuses on wellbeing and mental health in Coventry (and also aims to "give back to nature"). (Ref. 1-4)

Enablers

Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project

Yes

Please specify

Green Infrastructure Vision from Green Infrastructure Study (2008). (Ref. 9)

Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project

Unknown

If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.

City specific green space strategy or plan

Please specify other vegetation type

"gardens, woodlands, parks and nature reserves", nature, and wildlife (Ref 1)

Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project

Unknown

Please specify

E.g. Friends of Groups ("the hope is that many [of the 300 people experiencing mental ill health] will go on to volunteer in their own communities with Friends of Groups, community centres or even take up their own allotment"). (Ref. 2)

Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project

Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project

Unknown

Co-finance for NBS

Yes

Co-financing governance arrangements

Unknown

Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?

Unknown

Financing

Total cost

€100,000 - €500,000

What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?

Unknown

What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?

Unknown

What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?

Unknown

Please specify cost savings

Unknown

Please specify total cost (EUR)

“Warwickshire Wildlife Trust has partnered up with Coventry and Warwickshire Mind after successfully securing over £350,000 (386,798 EUR) from the National Lottery Community Fund”. There is also “additional funding and support from Coventry City Council and Whitefriars Housing”. (Ref. 2, 3)

Source(s) of funding

Public local authority budget

Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)

Private Foundation/Trust

Other

Please specify other source of funding

The National Lottery Community Fund "raises money for good causes" (Ref 8)

Type of fund(s) used

Earmarked public budget

Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)

Non-financial contribution

Yes

Type of non-financial contribution

Provision of labour

Who provided the non-financial contribution?

Citizens (e.g. volunteering)

Business models

Green health model

Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?

Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)

Citizens / local communities

5. Innovation

Type of innovation

Social

Cultural innovation

Novelty level of the innovation

The innovation is copied/derived from previous initiative(s) without substantial adaptation

Please specify novelty level of the innovation

"The project builds on the already successful Gardening in Mind project CWM (CWMind) have run for a number of years supporting clients to feel better through gardening and nature and also WWT’s Go with The Flow Project." (Ref. 2)

Replicability/Transferability

The innovation is not referred to as being transferred to new initiative(s)

Please specify Replicability/Transferability

The innovation started to deliver sessions during 2017, thus is not being transferred to new initiatives yet (Ref. 1-3)

6. Evaluation and learning

Impacts, benefits

Environmental impacts

Green space and habitat

Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems

Description of environmental benefits

New forms of green space management, through roaming conservation groups and new uses/ enhanced appreciation for green spaces (Ref. 2)

Economic impacts

Unknown

Description of economic benefits

Unknown

Please specify other environmental justice issue

Increased access to nature for those experiencing poor mental health (Ref. 1, 2)

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts

Achieved impacts

Indicators

Self-report on improved wellbeing in 6 weeks (Ref. 10); Testimonials on improved wellbeing, social interactions, and knowledge (Ref. 2)

Environmental, social and economic impacts

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)

Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)

Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)

Health and well-being (SDG 3)

Analysis of specific impact categories

Job creation: The NBS created ...

Voluntary work opportunities

Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...

Positive distribution of NBS benefits

Other

Please specify other method used to evaluate the impacts of NBS

Studies conducted (Ref. 10); testimonials recorded (Ref. 2)

Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?

No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project

COVID-19 pandemic

As a result of Covid-19, the Wildlife Trust has shut down two visitor centres and has stopped all of its activities and volunteering sessions, including the TEaM sessions (Ref. 11). The TEaM weekly newsletters were created as a way to keep the TEaM community together digitally during Covid-19 (Ref. 12).

Methods of impact monitoring

Process of recording NBS impacts

No evidence in public records

Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS

Other

Where can this data be accessed? Please include a link to a report or web-page.

https://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/get-closer-nature/wild-wellbeing

Evidence for use of assessment

Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Yes

Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports

Yes

Link to monitoring/evaluation reports

https://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/new_reports/INS2-2279519914.pdf

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

Yes

Link to a web-based monitoring tool

https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-2118868470?referer=widget3

Impact assessment mechanism

Name of any specific impact assessment tools

From CQC (CareQuality Commission) inspections (from 2016), the monitoring indicators for Coventry and Warwickshire Mind (who are partners with WWT in the TEaM project) are focused on service and include the following factors "safe, effective, caring, responsive, well-led". (Ref. 6)

Link to the output of assessments

https://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/new_reports/INS2-2279519914.pdf

Use of GIS in mapping impacts

No evidence in public records

Citizen involvement

Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation

Yes

Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment

Other

Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment

The launch of the project included an event (in a drop-in form) informing e.g. people/interested organizations about volunteering to the project or how organizations can work with/support the project. (Ref. 3)

The Wildlife Trusts are formed by groups of active people, and the trusts work to connect local people to nature thus enabling them to take action where they live, i.e. each of the local Wildlife Trusts (e.g. Warwickshire Wildlife Trust) work with individuals. (Ref. 7)

Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation

Unknown

Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment

Unknown

7. Sources

References

Web links relevant to the intervention

Documents relevant to the intervention

Attachment	Size
Ref. 6 (78.4 KB)	78.4 KB

List of 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).

Comments and notes

Additional insights

2017 review comments:
Section 4/ enablers: This is unknown although there is a general 'Mental health and wellbeing' concept provided by the Coventry City Council, who is a supporter of the project (i.e. part of the Coventry Health and Wellbeing Strategy for 2016-2019). (Ref. 5)

2020 review comments:
Section 1/ timeline of intervention: The starting date of the NBS no longer appears in the listed references.
Section 2/ quantitative targets: work with 300 people experiencing poor mental health over three years. This no longer appears in the references listed.
Section 2/ monitoring indicators defined & Section 6/ evidence for use of assessment, impact assessment mechanism: "Indicators from the CQC CareQuality Commission inspections): if the service is safe/effective/caring/responsive/well-led (e.g. enough care workers/care personal to deliver the care and support people required). (Ref. 6)" was listed in 2017 review and is an indirect evaluation of the NBS. It evaluates the performance of the charity delivering the NBS, but not the NBS itself.

Public Images

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