Chilli Studios

The Recovery in Nature (formerly Forest Folk) was a kitchen garden project, developed and managed by a partnership between North East Wilds CIC and the mental health charity - Chilli Studios. The original project aimed to involve adults with mental health and wellbeing needs in nature-based activities to improve their wellbeing.

Due to the lockdown restrictions, people could no longer gather in large numbers nor travel to local woodlands, necessitating revisions to the original project proposal, but with the same aims. The focus was adapted to gardening, art activities outdoors and growing healthy food.

Summary: Lockdown gardening care packages and in-person gardening sessions for local residents.

Award: £4,757

Area: Byker

Beneficiaries: Involved 39 unique participants in in-person garden sessions in 2020 and 46 in 2021. 112 Gardening care packages delivered in 2020 and 91 in 2021.

Line graph showing increasing attendance at the Chilli Studios project May to December.

Graph showing the growth in attendance for the Kitchen Garden sessions. For more information read the Chilli Studios project report (link left)

The aims of the project were:

  • Increase wellbeing

  • Increase emotional resilience

  • Decrease social isolation and loneliness

  • Reach a wider number of participants and develop relationships with partner organisations

  • Increase the access of outdoor areas and participation in outdoor based activities

  • Investigate sessions being funded through social prescribing

Digital Story: Chilli Studios with the Kitchen Garden

Man sits outside carving wood
Hands over a glass jar, filling it with honey.
A group of people working around a vegetable patch.
Leafy vegetables growing in soil.
Two pans on a makeshift outdoor stove, one contains a red liquid, the other a brown liquid. They look like chutney.
Three people standing around a vegetable patch.
A hand holding a jar of beetroot and bramble chutney.
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