Our Hello Spring project was delivered over a five week period in our allotment, arts and wellbeing space at Leckwith Drove Allotments in Cardiff.
This project was funded by the Fusion Project, Welsh Government, and was also supported by the National Lottery Community Fund and The Arts Council of Wales.
This programme brought together adults from Ty Canna Mental Health Outreach and User Led Services and Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff for weekly creative workshops. A volunteer from the Creative and Therapeutic Arts course in USW Pontypridd also joined the sessions, providing valuable support throughout the project.
Inspired by the Spring season and the natural environment, participants created short animated films capturing the mood, colours, and rhythms of nature. Across five sessions, our participants explored animation techniques using natural materials, developed new creative skills, and worked collaboratively outdoors.
This project encouraged people to engage with nature, connect with others, and express themselves creatively.
Participation
Each session was attended by an average of eight participants. The allotment and outdoors setting played a key role in inspiring creativity, offering a calm and natural environment which supported wellbeing and artistic exploration.
Creative Process
Participants explored the theme of Spring through conversation, creative writing, art and animation. The natural surroundings informed their work and encouraged reflection on renewal, growth, and hope.
A collective piece of writing emerged from the sessions:
Hello Spring
Winter’s gloom ends,
its quiet grip loosens.
Days stretch longer,
we wake to birdsong and light.
Seedlings break through
the harsh, stubborn soil,
reaching always upward.
Spring arrives in promises:
snowdrops, soft and certain,
blossom drifting on the breeze.
Bluebells ring in
a season of hope,
their colour calling us forward.
Spring does not ask permission,
it trusts the light
and begins its uprising.
And we, too, stand beneath
the same wide sun.
Light knows no borders.
New life brings
new hope.
Impact
Experienced creative facilitators and counsellors provided a safe, non-judgemental environment.
Participants came to the sessions having faced a range of mental and physical challenges over the winter period. The theme of Spring offered a gentle and accessible starting point, enabling everyone to contribute.
Participants were able to:
- Build on their strengths
- Develop creative confidence
- Learn new animation skills
- Share experiences and support one another.
The sessions fostered a strong sense of community, with participants laughing, connecting, and experiencing creative flow together. Many expressed an interest in continuing to attend the allotment, to volunteer and engage in further arts, nature and wellbeing activities.
Participants reported improved strategies for managing their mental wellbeing and increased support for improving their physical health through engagement in creative and nature-based activities.
Participant Testimonials
“I struggled with my mental health for many years, I find it hard to find motivation to do anything, even leaving the house. If I don’t go out, I get worse and lost in negative thoughts. Coming here stops that. I feel inspired and immediately better. Creating the animation gives me a sense of achievement.”
“Listening to others struggling with similar issues makes me feel less alone. Sharing, creating something together, and laughing together lifts me and gives me hope that I can get through this.”
“ It is good that the sessions have been on a Monday morning, it helps me start the week in a more productive and positive way, I feel better and sleep better.”
“I am going through chemotherapy at the moment, the cancer journey is starting to affect my mental health. Coming here and doing something that does not relate to my illness helps me feel more positive and to cope better.”
Outcomes
The Hello Spring project has:
- Reduced social isolation
- Helped participants form new friendships
- Increased self-confidence
- Supported mental wellbeing through creative engagement and nature-inspired outdoor activities.
Next Steps
The final animation film created during the project was launched on our website and You Tube channel (link here), celebrating participants’ achievements and sharing their work with a wider audience.
Participant Feedback
“Being amongst the plants is relaxing and inspiring.”
“Painting the colours and flowers around me makes me feel happy.”
“I find doing art in nature really calming.”
“I always wanted to try animation, I can’t wait to show my son what I have made.”
Conclusion
Hello Spring has demonstrated the powerful impact of creative, nature-based activities on wellbeing, confidence, and social connection. The project has provided participants with meaningful skills, positive experiences, and a renewed sense of hope moving forward.
