Praise for North East outdoor adventure programme that supports older adults

The Silver Saplings Adventures (SSA) programme is a nature-based wellbeing initiative led by environmental education charity, Wild Things, that supports older people living in the North East of Scotland.

Each month, Wild Things works with four groups of older people, organising day trips to outdoor areas and providing opportunities for older participants to connect with others, as well as learning about their local natural environment.

The day trips include a variety of nature-themed activities such as tree and plant ID, bird watching, pond-dipping, willow weaving, and botanical drawing, with trips including rock pooling in Hopeman, identifying plants at Brodie Castle, admiring bluebells at Burgie Arboretum and bird watching in Lossiemouth amongst many other nature-based activities.

Researchers from RGU were commissioned by Wild Things to evaluate the impact of the Silver Saplings Adventures programme to find out how it affected the participants’ wellbeing. The research team gathered feedback from 17 participants who engaged in the 12-month programme, during its third (and penultimate) cycle from January – December 2023.

Some of those taking part in the Silver Saplings adventures were interviewed for the research, and overall indicated that the programme was beneficial to their wellbeing, physically, socially, mentally, psychologically and emotionally, with many saying the programme exceeded their initial expectations.

Dr Nick Adams and Dr Emma MacIver, Research Fellows from the School of Health who co-led the study and wrote the report said: “Whilst previous studies have demonstrated that exposure to nature and green space, social inclusion and later-life learning, are linked to several positive wellbeing effects, there has been limited evidence around the effects of such programmes for older adults”.

“Our study shows that the significant benefits of engaging with the Silver Saplings Adventures programme, is its role in supporting mental stimulation and growth. Those interviewed said the programme helped them acquire, develop and share new knowledge with others in and outside the group, about their own local area, nature, environmental issues, or other people, as well as developing practical skills. This improved their wellbeing, community engagement, development of social ties and improved social cohesion”.

As adults age, friendship circles can become smaller and opportunities to meet new people and develop new points of contact may decrease. The Silver Saplings Programme has worked to counteract this decline, providing a new platform and capacity for knowledge, connections, and self-development opportunities for older adults, an opportunity to develop renewed confidence and increase perceived wellbeing.

Luke Strachan, CEO of the Wild Things that leads the Silver Saplings Adventures, said: “It’s been a huge privilege to pioneer this work with older demographics. We worked hard to create a programme that was accessible to all ages and abilities and, whilst we very much believed we would see positive impacts, we have been surprised and delighted at just how well the programme has been received. It has been hugely gratifying to see those results echoed in the study conducted by RGU and we believe we have developed a working model which makes a genuine difference to the lives of older people.

“Many of our older participants have indicated that the benefits of our excursions have persisted well beyond the scope of our engagement with new friendships, skills, confidence and interests forming as a result. It’s safe to say that as we get older, positive physical and mental health can become harder and harder to maintain. We have shown that with a relatively minor and cost-effective intervention, the spirit of exploration, friendship, life-long learning and the serenity of nature can do a huge amount of work to nurture both body and mind”.

The report found that in terms of addressing physical wellbeing, individuals were encouraged (and supported as required) to be mobile and active, through walking around and exploring the outdoor locations visited during the Silver Saplings Adventures outings.

One participant involved with the programme said: “It’s amazing, they take us out, show us different things, how to do things. It’s made life so different since I got in contact with them.”

Whilst another said: “When you’re out in the country, you’re out in the fresh air, you’re watching the birds, watching the nature round about you and I just feel like I’ve got my life back.”

In terms of social wellbeing, the Silver Saplings Adventures group helps older people develop new connections and brings together ‘likeminded’ individuals to share new experiences and foster friendships.

There were extensive and wide-ranging benefits to the psychological and emotional wellbeing of those involved in the Silver Saplings Adventures group. Going on outings, being with other people and being outdoors, were all viewed as being beneficial in managing feelings of stress, depression, loneliness, and isolation, and increasing general feelings of happiness and enjoyment.

The findings from the evaluation will be used to support the programme beyond its current funding, and to inform the development of other similar programmes for older people.