Blue Light Card Foundation are thrilled to announce we are working with Blossoms at Larne Lough to deliver Nature-based Therapy Courses.
This project addresses a clear need: high levels of stress, burnout and psychological distress among NHS and Blue Light personnel.
There is a need for preventative and restorative nature-based interventions that sit alongside clinical services and support staff before crisis point.
This 8-week programme increases staff wellbeing and decreases psychological distress through structured, therapeutic and meaningful engagement with nature. It works preventatively for staff in the workplace by providing protected time away from high-pressure environments to restore balance and create space to build resilience. It supports staff who are off on medium/long-term absence, or on phased return, offering a safe, non-threatening group setting.
Participants learn practical horticultural therapy skills including:
The programme integrates psychoeducation on stress physiology and nervous system regulation, equipping participants with simple, evidence-informed tools such as grounding, sensory awareness and intentional outdoor practice that can be embedded into daily life. Sessions take place in a purpose-built therapeutic garden, where the environment itself forms part of the intervention.
“This programme with Blossoms at Larne Lough in Northern Ireland reflects a clear and urgent need to support NHS and Blue Light staff with preventative, nature-based approaches that sit alongside clinical services.
We know that sustained exposure to high-pressure environments can take a significant toll on mental health, and that early, restorative interventions are essential in preventing escalation to crisis point.
By combining structured horticultural therapy, psychoeducation and time in a therapeutic garden environment, this programme creates space for people to step away from pressure, reconnect with practical activity and develop tools to better understand and manage stress.
It offers a calm, supportive setting where individuals can recover, rebuild resilience and take practical steps towards improved wellbeing, whether they are in work, on absence or returning to service.”
Emma Woods-Bolger, CEO – Blue Light Card Foundation
To learn more about Blossoms at Larne Lough, please visit www.blossomsatlarnelough.org