A SPRINGWATCH star is set to share the importance of nature for improving mental health in a talk in aid of a youth counselling charity.
Naturalist, TV presenter, photographer and author Chris Packham will be leading a lecture at the University of Winchester on Thursday, December 1.
The celebrity will be exploring how nature can be used to ease the symptoms of debilitating mental health conditions, including depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Winchester Youth Counselling (WYC) announced Packham as its patron in April 2022 and the lecture - titled ‘Nature on my mind: The impact of nature, wildlife and caring for the environment on our mental health’ – will be his first for the counselling service.
All proceeds from ticket sales to the talk, jointly hosted by the university and WYC will go to the mental health charity based at The Winchester Centre.
CEO of Winchester Youth Counselling, Erin McMurty, said: "We are incredibly grateful to Chris for being a patron of Winchester Youth Counselling and sharing his valuable time with us. We are hugely looking forward to hearing what he has to say about nature and mental health, which is an area of work that is so important to us and so valuable to young people in Winchester. We would like to sincerely thank Chris, the University of Winchester, WYC staff and young volunteers that have made this opportunity possible."
The celebrity, best known for presenting the BBC’s Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch series, will present evidence behind the positive link of spending time in the natural environment and its impact on mental health. Nature-based interventions have become increasingly popular in healthcare, education and rehabilitation.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Winchester, Professor Sarah Greer, said: "The benefits of green spaces and the natural environment for our health and wellbeing are increasingly recognised - particularly since Covid19 - and so we are delighted to welcome Chris Packham to talk about the important issue of mental health and how research backs up the powerful idea that 'nature is good medicine'."
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The lecture will take place from 7.15-8.45pm on Thursday, December 1, 2022, with light refreshments available from 6.30pm in the West Downs Centre, Romsey Road, S022 5FT. Tickets cost £20 or £16.50 for students and under 18s. All of the funds will go directly to Winchester Youth Counselling.
To book go to winchester.ac.uk/chrispackham.
Chris Packham walked the Itchen Navigation for a BBC programme, Chris Packham: The Walk that Made Me, which was aired in July 2021. Concluding at Winchester Cathedral, Chris shared stories of his childhood- growing up in the Hampshire countryside and battling mental health issues.
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