Naturally connected
Almost a decade ago , Hannah Buck joined the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority , and here she reflects on occupational therapy and nature-based health
In 2012 , I joined the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority ’ s policy team , leading on health , wellbeing , recreation and tourism . Although not employed as an occupational therapist , it was clear that my role would draw upon the heart of a profession that sees the importance of participation in meaningful occupation as being fundamental to health and wellbeing .
In this role I was able to identify clear links between the ethos of occupational therapy and the national park ’ s key statutory purposes : to conserve and enhance the natural beauty , wildlife and cultural heritage of the national park ; and to promote opportunities for the public understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the parks .
In the national park ’ s purposes , I saw strong affiliations with occupational justice and occupational performance and engagement , as well as the intrinsic occupational value to be found in conservation activities , as well as participation in and experiences of natural beauty , wildlife and cultural heritage .
In the national park I saw opportunities for salutogenesis and in the occupational therapy profession I saw the same salutogenic model of health and wellbeing
( Holmberg and Ringsberg 2014 ). Although my role with the national park has primarily been in policy , I have also developed work on the ground that has , in turn , informed my work in policy .
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Some occupational therapy services may have been able to take their service outdoors and found that their interventions took on new dimensions being in outdoor and nature-based settings .
An example of the exchange between policy and practice is my partnership work developing a ‘ naturebased health services network ’. This network is open to professionals , researchers , commissioners and those with lived experience , who have drawn on experiences in nature as part of their own therapeutic intervention .
This West Wales based network comprises of a range of informal communities of practice , including ‘ walking in nature ’, ‘ sea and open water ’, ‘ animal assisted care ’, ‘ woodlands and countryside ’, and ‘ gardening and care farming ’, as well as ‘ arts in nature ’.
It has come as no surprise that there are a number of occupational therapists working directly in the field who use nature as part of their therapeutic interventions who have joined the network .
Over time , I have also developed the national park ’ s fleet of beach wheelchairs which , with my occupational therapy skills , I have been able to develop operational
50 OTnews July 2021