In August thirteen people from the Equals IW Friends and Family Group joined Mark and Gina as the sun went down for a summer evening walk .

Gina began by asking everyone to be aware their senses. She reminded the group to enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. She also shared the walk's theme of medieval mindfulness.

The walk took the group down Froglands Lane and past Froglands Farm. They followed the valley beside Lukely Brook, then continued to Clatterford Shute and back towards the castle.

Mark encouraged them to stop en route to view the surrounding landscape with the stream and the sun setting over the hills.

The walk ended after going around the Carisbrooke Castle wall and moat. Gina Then led a fun twenty-minute Mindful Movement meditation to medieval music resonating with the long rich history of Carisbrooke Castle. 

Mindful Movement is a gentle way to connect body and mind. It helps us notice how we feel as we move. It can lower stress, release energy, and support both physical and mental health.

We took photos

Green Time a fun, informal way using the great outdoors to enhance positive emotional wellbeing, self-confidence, self-esteem and mental health.

Twenty-one friends from the Equals IW group came together for a walk in Firestone Copse.

The evening began with a picnic where they met in the woodland picnic area and shared delicious food.

Mark then led the group on a gentle walk as the sun went down. The air was cool and fresh. The trees gave shade and the woods were full of oak, ash and hazel.

They also saw tall Douglas fir cedar and Scots pine. These trees stay green all year and many took lovely photos.

Mark stopped with the group by the river. It was one of the most beautiful places in the woodland and they enjoyed the view together.

By the end of the walk each person had taken about 4870 steps and used 206 calories.

We took photos

Green Time a fun, informal way using the great outdoors to enhance positive emotional wellbeing, self-confidence, self-esteem and mental health.

Discovering Landscapes

Heritage ‘Coast to Coast’ Project: Tennyson Heritage Coast at Compton Bay

Equals IW Friends and Family Group recently joined a short guided walk along Compton Bay beach, led by Mark and Dan.

After the walk they took part in Indonesian Cultural Line Dancing led by our Indonesian Community Friends Wayan and Niviera.

The group also enjoyed watching a Filipino Cultural Dance Performance, led by Cece and Aireen from our Filipino Community Friends.

A Cultural Picnic and Learning Display

The afternoon picnic included a delicious selection of food from different cultures.

There was also a "Show and Tell" display, created by Dan, with handwritten fact cards. These cards shared what the group had learned during two earlier exploring workshops.

Topics included:

•  Compton Bay and Downs
• Fossils at Compton Beach
• Local birds, butterflies, and other wildlife
• Geology and rocks
• Shipwrecks
• Surfing
• Erosion of the coastline

The display also featured 20 artworks made by Equals Friends and Family Group, together with our Climate Pledges. These focused on

• Using sustainable materials
• Walking or using eco-friendly transport
• Turning off appliances when not in use
• Washing clothes cold and air drying
• Shopping local
• Reducing plastic use and refilling products

Celebrating with Walkers and Silk Flags

The picnic ended with a warm welcome for walkers arriving from the Isle of Wight Walking Festival route from Newtown to Compton Bay.

This final part of the event was part of the Beaches of Dreams national arts project. It celebrates UK coastlines and their culture, history and future in the face of the climate crisis.

Frankie and Chris from the Discovering Landscapes Team led a beautiful silk flag parade along the beach. Twenty colourful silk flags flew in the sea breeze, creating a stunning scene.

Discovering Landscapes at Compton Bay was a wonderful way to boost wellbeing and mental health while enjoying the coastline and being creative.

We took photos

The Heritage Coast-to-Coast project (pdf 412kB) uses the great outdoors to enhance positive emotional wellbeing, self-confidence, self-esteem and mental health.

Discovering Landscapes

Heritage ‘Coast to Coast’ Project: Tennyson Heritage Coast at Compton Bay

Equals IW Friends and Family Group joined Creative Connector Gina to create 10 beautiful silk-painted flags.

Each person learned how to do batik and paint on silk using bright, specialist dyes.

The flag designs were inspired by our recent visits to Compton Bay. We took ideas from the art we made there, and from the local views of sea, land, cliffs, rocks, and soil colours.

While exploring the beach and nearby nature, we found fossils and dinosaur footprints.

The small group split into two teams to create the flags. They shared stories, enjoyed friendship, and laughed from start to finish.

This creative workshop was a fun and relaxing way to support mental health and emotional wellbeing through art.

We took photos

The Heritage Coast-to-Coast project (pdf 412kB) uses the great outdoors to enhance positive emotional wellbeing, self-confidence, self-esteem and mental health.

Discovering Landscapes

Heritage ‘Coast to Coast’ Project: Tennyson Heritage Coast at Compton Bay

Equals IW Friends and Family Group joined Kathy to explore and discover the cliff coastline. Kathy is a Nature Connector and helped the group learn about the different bird, butterfly and plant species found on the coastal path including

• Sea beet, an edible plant adapted to produce modern-day sugar beet
• Buckshorn plantain, another edible plant (buck's horn)
• Ribwort plantain, a food plant for the rare Glanville Fritillary butterfly
• Thrift,  called sea pink and attractive to bees and butterflies
• Lesser Celandine,  provides early-season nectar for pollinators like bees and hoverflies

Down on the beach at Compton Bay Kathy demonstrated how to make some charcoal on an open beach fire.

Everyone enjoyed cooking, on the open beach fire, Crab Damper bread on sticks with sea beet foraged on the day.

The group also joined Gina who is also a Creative Connector, and learnt how to use a selection of oils, pastels, crayons and coloured pencils to create sketches of the land and seascapes of Compton Bay.

The session was very interactive, creative and hands-on, enabling all to take part in a really fun and exciting learning experience.

They were able to switch off, get up close and connect with nature and each other.

The time spent together ‘Discovering Landscapes’ at Compton Bay was a perfect way to enhance emotional wellbeing and mental health while enjoying the fantastic coastline views.

We took photos

The Heritage Coast-to-Coast project (pdf 412kB) uses the great outdoors to enhance positive emotional wellbeing, self-confidence, self-esteem and mental health.

Discovering Landscapes Heritage ‘Coast to Coast’ Tennyson Heritage Coast - Compton Bay

Equals IW Friends and Family Group recently joined Kathy to explore and discover life on the water’s edge at Compton Bay.

Kathy is a Nature Connector which is someone who helps people enjoy and understand nature. They guide activities that help people feel closer to the natural world, through fun, learning and creativity.

The group had the challenge of finding dinosaur footprints and fossils and created sand art using natural materials.

They enthusiastically explored the geology of Compton Bay with its different colours. They also took part in sensory activities to connect with nature.

During a late afternoon exceptionally low spring tide they investigated the natural resources of the beach including the rock pool creatures.

The group came together and gathered different coloured clays from the cliffs to make paint. Some added green colour from plantains growing on the cliffs. These natural materials were used to create beautiful artwork on fabric.

The session was interactive, creative and a fun way to learn.  It gave people the chance to relax, learn and enjoy nature together. The time at Compton Bay was a great way to feel better, connect with others and take in the stunning coastline views.

We took photos

The Heritage Coast-to-Coast project (pdf 412kB) uses the great outdoors to enhance positive emotional wellbeing, self-confidence, self-esteem and mental health.

Join the Equals IW Friends and Family Group with Kathy to explore and discover the cliff coastline. Learn about the bird, butterfly and plant species found on the coast.

• Sunday 13th April 2025
• 4pm to 6pm
• Meeting Point: Compton Beach Car Park, Military Road, PO30 4HB
• What3Words: loitering.estimated.error
• Parking: Free

On Compton Beach we will explore the rock pools, sea life and seaweeds.

We will safely make charcoal on an open beach fire and use it in the creative session with Gina to make mixed media pictures.

We may also have time to create a collage using items such as shells found on the beach.

Using  oils, pastels, crayons and coloured pencils we will create sketches of the items, land and seascapes at Compton Bay.

Exploring Compton Bay during a spring low tide will be very interactive, creative and hands-on. You will experience a really fun and exciting learning opportunity while  switching off and connecting with nature and each other.

A perfect way to enhance your emotional wellbeing and mental health whilst enjoying the fantastic coastline views.

Please bring a beach towel to dry your feet after rock pooling.

Text or call Mark today and book your place on 0785 485 2518.

We have a flyer. (pdf 540kB)

The Heritage Coast-to-Coast project (pdf  412kB) uses the great outdoors to enhance positive emotional wellbeing, self-confidence, self-esteem and mental health.

The Equals IW Friends and Family Group recently came together at the Snacks and Ladders Board Game Café and Eatery.

The evening co-ordinated by Niviera let the group meet, talk and catch up in a safe environment.

Everyone enjoyed the time together in friendship, boosting one another’s mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Refreshments were supported through the Green Time, Food and Mood programme.

This element of the programme focuses on the importance of how what we eat affects how we feel, our behaviour, attitude, and our physical health and emotional wellbeing, which ultimately defines who we are. 

Niviera shares “I hope our get together last night will have positive results and strengthen our family friendship bonding”.

We took photos

Green Time is a fun, informal way of participating in activities to enhance positive emotional wellbeing, self-confidence, self-esteem and mental health.

The Autumn Walk ended a third successful year of walks. The Equals IW Friends and Family Group recently came together to take part in the final Green Time Walk of 2024 the Rookley and Roslin Walk. Friends joined Mark who led this beautiful circular walk, leaving Rookley Village to walk down Bunkers Lane and on through Bunkers Copse.

We walked down the path passing a large field full of sheep and onto the marsh field that was very wet. We were faced with a challenge to work out a dry route to the stream bridge. Crossing the River Medina at the bottom of the valley we walked up hill to Loverstone Farm for a well-earned short break.

From there we climbed the short hill to view the surrounding countryside in the warm autumn sunshine and walked on to Ramsdown Farm. Here the walk re-joined the country lane to on to Rookley Farm to find an autumn coloured leafed wall for a fun photo opportunity.

We took the path back to Rookley Village to successfully complete the circular walk 

4.5 miles –7.2km, 473 Kcal being burnt and 10,215 steps taken.

Mark, who is the Green Time Co-ordinator is delighted to share the Green Time Walks will be returning in spring 2025 for a fourth season of walks. Next year walks will give an opportunity to explore even more different areas of the natural outstanding beautiful countryside of the Isle of Wight. 

We took photos

Green Time a fun, informal way using the great outdoors to enhance positive emotional wellbeing, self-confidence, self-esteem and mental health. The Green Time Walks are a partnership programme between Equals IW, MCEnhancement, Isle of Wight Council Mental Health Alliance and Gift To Nature.

Friends form Equals IW Friends and Family Group joined Mark at Merstone Community Orchard and Railway Station to take part in a Redway Loop. The site is managed by Gift to Nature.

We were delighted to have a new friend join us for this walk along with Sandy and Jo from Healthwatch Isle of Wight. While walking the group discussed concerns about health and social care services on the Isle of Wight.

The walk started by exploring and learning about the Community Orchard and the heritage of the old railway station. The orchard is home to a range of wildflowers, fruit trees and the blossom provides a early source of nectar.

Mark lead the beautiful circular walk taking the country lane and woodland pathway to Redway. They continued round a field planted with sweetcorn and country fields to Horringford. The group then returned to Merstone Old Railway Station and the Community Orchard along the old railway line which is now a hard-packed cycle track.

The final Green Time Walk for 2024 is taking place on Sunday 13th October 2024 between 2pm and 5pm. More details soon.

We took photos

The Green Time Walk easy circular walk covered 5km (3 .2 miles) and participants burnt 289 Kcal taking 6,900 steps.

Green Time a fun, informal way using the great outdoors to enhance positive emotional wellbeing, self-confidence, self-esteem and mental health.