Publish date: 27 May 2025
Families affected by mental health challenges are benefiting from the great outdoors, thanks to an innovative new partnership in Bath.
Working in partnership with Bath City Farm, Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) is creating an idyllic setting for family therapy.
Over the past year the AWP Family Therapy team have been using outdoor spaces to offer sessions to families where they can make the most of the therapeutic benefits of being in and around nature.
The new partnership with Bath City Farm means more local families can get support in a less formal setting where they can get their hands dirty learning new skills.
Dr Anna Strudwick, Clinical Psychologist and Systemic Family Therapist, said: “At AWP we are passionate about the experiences and the benefits that come with getting outside amongst nature and proud of our long-standing partnership with Bath City Farm. Nature connection can help personal wellbeing in all contexts. Nature is an integral ingredient for people with serious mental health conditions. There are so many opportunities for including nature, at its most simple level it can just be taking an activity outdoors.”
Helen Hawke, Adult Programmes Manager at Bath City Farm said: "This is a really exciting development for Bath City Farm and our partnership with AWP. The space is tucked away from the busyness of the Farm and surrounded by nature, animals and a stunning panoramic view. Bath City Farm delivers nature-based interventions for mental health recovery and this new space offers a non-clinical and trauma-informed environment for us to provide 1-1 mental health support for people we work with. We have loved working with the experienced team from AWP who provide training and support to our staff and are looking forward to helping them develop their base here."
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) provides healthcare for people with serious mental illness, learning disabilities and autism in inpatient and community-based settings. We service a population of around 1.8 million across Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES), Swindon and Wiltshire, and Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.
