Woods on prescription

Join one of our free wellbeing courses, held in local woodlands

At times, many of us can experience feeling lonely, isolated or down. If this is you at the moment, and you’re finding it hard to know how to feel more like yourself again, then you might be interested to hear that spending time in nature has been shown to reduce our stress and boost our mood.

During the year we run free courses for adults who would like to improve their sense of wellbeing. Through regular woodland activity sessions, our Woods on Prescription courses help connect you with nature as well as meet new people in your community.

If you would like to join us, please get in touch. We also welcome referrals from health professionals.

To be eligible to attend a course, you need to live within the Lost Woods project area. Please see the project map for more information.

view upcoming courses Register your interest to join our wellbeing course Make a referral

Who is this support for?

Our Woods on Prescription sessions are for adults who wish to improve their sense of wellbeing. Previous participants have joined the course because they have been experiencing low mood, feelings of isolation, or loneliness. Some people have decided to try the course as they have experienced a challenging life event, whereas others have reported feeling down over a gradual period of time.

Most people refer themselves to join the sessions, but we also welcome referrals from social prescribers, GPs and other health professionals.

We run groups twice a year at different locations across the project area in Sussex. If you would like to join a course, please see details of upcoming courses below, or contact us to let us know where you’d like a course to be held in the future.

We also support children and young people through our projects that work directly with Community Groups in our project area. We can support Community Groups for adults in our woodlands for wellbeing approach, providing you with session plans, activity ideas, and in-person support.

What happens during a session?

The sessions are different each week. We might be trying our hand at a woodland craft, going on a nature walk, or doing some light conservation tasks.

The group always ends the session with tea and cake, and shared thoughts and experiences, along with a nature-based task for the coming week.

We base our sessions on the NHS’s Five Ways to Wellbeing approach, so that by the time the course ends, you’ll have some practical tools for the future.

Previous participants said:

“I’ve had the most beautiful time”, “It’s got me out of the house and back into the world again”, and “It’s made me proud of our local area”.

A Woods on Prescription group enjoying a wildlife walk with Michael from the team

Upcoming courses

Woods on prescription, Lewes

Six weekly sessions, held on Tuesdays, 1 - 4pm, at Landport, Lewes

Taster session: Tuesday 21 April, 2026 (come along and meet the team)

Session dates: 5th May, 12th May, 19th May, 2nd June, 9th June, 16th June.

Did you know that spending time in nature can help calm us down or give us a lift? If you're struggling with low mood, loneliness, a difficult life event or simply want to feel part of something why not come along? The Lost Woods team invites you to join our free woodland wellbeing group for adults, to help you to learn to enjoy and connect with nature for improved wellbeing. This course is ideal for those who live in or near to Lewes and draws on the NHS 5 ways to Wellbeing framework;

Connect with nature through activities that promote wellbeing
Woodland crafts, wildlife surveying, light conservation work and more
Meet new people and get to know your local woodland

Sessions are free and open to all but places are limited. Self-referrals are welcome as are referrals from GP's and social prescribers. For more information and to register your interest, contact lostwoodsteam@ruralsussex.org.uk or complete our form.

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Our Woods on Prescription facilitator

Our wellbeing courses are organised by Karen Laver from the Lost Woods team. Karen has a background in therapeutic play, family support and facilitating groups, as well as mindfulness and forest school. She loves learning about nature and has really noticed what a positive impact this has had on her own wellbeing.

Participants from our Woods on Prescription sessions have given overwhelmingly positive feedback. One told us:

“The ethos of the group's very gentle, very allowing, very supportive, and [there’s] sort of permission to just go with what you feel. I think it's always really, carefully held.”

Karen Laver