Wild Possibilities Wellbeing Woodland

I hope with your support to create a wild and private haven for people of all ages to gather and come back into nature for healing and growth. A place where all are warmly welcomed can learn about the plants and the trees, the cycles and seasons of the land, from old traditions and wise elders. A place to realise a personal belonging with our natural environment and with the earth.

My vision is to create a wonderful therapeutic woodland space for outdoor based therapies, teaching and workshops. The project, provisionally called, Wild Possibilities Wellbeing Woodland, will be a safe space within Plymouth that will provide structured and accompanied creative therapeutic healing experiences by specialist arts therapy practitioners, counsellors and elders. 

ArtCures Eco Art Therapy will provide unique therapeutic and learning experiences in this safe and inclusive woodland setting, designed to nurture emotional wellbeing, social skills and connection to the natural world. ArtCures Eco Art Therapy aims to help build the resilience and self-esteem necessary to meet life's challenges.

ArtCures facilitate environmental art therapy (EAT) and arts therapies for individuals of all ages, working with children, adults and elders in schools, universities, adult mental health settings and in private practice. Providing a creative, nurturing and collaborative environment through one to one and small group bookable therapy sessions there will also be opportunities for other therapeutic practitioners to also utilise the woodland.

About ArtCures

ArtCures Ltd is directed and facilitated by myself, Michelle Edinburgh. Since qualifying as an art psychotherapist, I have worked extensively within NHS settings in mental health, physical health, learning disabilities and in both adult and young people's services.  As a practicing artist, most recent exhibited mixed media paintings, Supernovae at Willow Restaurant, Totnes, Devon in February 2020 and an Environmental Arts Therapist, I am deeply committed to working with healing and the land.

ArtCures Eco Art Therapy continues to aspire to work with people of all walks of life including both the 'worried well' and those from disadvantaged and marginalised communities such as refugees and asylum seekers, BAME, LGBTQ, women and children, the deaf community, etc.

Environmental arts therapy is a creative, dynamic, nature based therapeutic practice which when distilled is about the human heart and its deep and enduring connection to nature and her cycles. This practical eco psychotherapy approach uses the place, seasons, cycles, varied themes and the materials of nature as its therapeutic medium.

Environmental arts therapists use an integrative arts approach including creating art, making art with natural materials, drama therapy, role-play, poetry and story telling. The use of bodywork through movement, rhythm, sound and voice are also all used to invite encounters in and with nature.

At this time of ecological crisis, economic contraction and now global pandemic, the transition to earth-based wisdom has never been so urgent and so vital. Learning from ancient and our indigenous cultures who live sustainably on the earth and who understand the interconnectedness of all things, this project endeavours to put into living practice that we, humans being are an integral part of the whole and our engaging with the land is fundamental to the planet’s, humanity’s and our individual survival.

Environmental Arts Therapy (EAT) is a newly emerging and rapidly growing field which can gently but powerfully support this urgently needed change in perspective and in human consciousness.

EAT and Creative Arts Therapies typically utilise playful, in-the-moment, grounded and compassionate means to help transform the struggle of despair and experiences of overwhelm, apathy and loss. EAT and Creative Arts Therapies seek to support and develop emotional and psychological stamina that is crucial in navigating and sustaining through these times and through these experiences.

Indigenous people urge us to change the 'dream' of the modern world of over-consumption since this is driving the eradication of the rainforests across the world. We are living in a trance that is threatening the wellbeing of all life on earth and we need to the roots of this human destructiveness.

By supporting this project you are helping make a case for a new and innovative approach, one which will support the repair and restoration of both people and land.  

The project would at every possible opportunity seek to re-wild, regenerate, mentor and inspire people to understand how they are part of the planet.

Part of the wellbeing woodland dream would be to build a straw bale workshop for 'bringing the outdoors in', and for indoor art making when the weather is too inclement. The project would also house several compost loos for essential comforts and for teaching how 'poop belongs in the loop!' 

ArtCures Eco Art Therapy would love for you to be a part of the birthing of this wildly transformative woodland. Please take a look at the many rewards being offered, and be a part of creating this venture and make a pledge. 

Equally important is to spread the word. Any help through social media or even by word of mouth would be massively appreciated. I will be posting on Facebook and Instagram over the next few weeks, see links below. It would be great if you could follow me and share news of this exciting project with your friends and family.

Yours excitedly,

Michelle x

Facebook: @ArtCuresArtTherapy&EcoArtTherapy

Facebook: @wellbeingwoodland 

Instagram: Chel_devon

NB. Once the project is established it is Wild Possibilities intention to tithe a minimum of ten per cent of all it's profits to Treesisters.org.