Mother Earth Day
This International Mother Earth Day (April 22), Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board is encouraging people to re-connect with nature to help improve their health and the health of our planet.
This is the first Mother Earth Day celebrated within the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Ecosystems support all life on Earth. The healthier our ecosystems are, the healthier the planet - and its people.
An ecosystem is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life.
Restoring our damaged ecosystems will help to end poverty, combat climate change and prevent mass extinction. Time spent in nature and restoring it can also offer great benefits for our health and wellbeing. But we will only succeed if everyone plays their part.
On this International Mother Earth Day, let's re-connect with the beautiful green and blue spaces around us. Our region boasts a wealth of natural beauty spots from soaring mountain tops and wide open green parks, to relaxing beaches and adventurous forest walks; let’s make the most of the resources nature has provided and use them to feel better, get active and ground ourselves in nature.
But nature is also available in our back gardens and out in our local communities.
Community programmes across CTM are supporting people with the skills and knowledge to get involved in nature, and making the most of community gardens and local spaces to put these skills into action.
Since 2010, Coed Lleol (Small Woods Wales) has been successfully running health and wellbeing activities through their Actif Woods Wales programme. Today this programme has grown from strength to strength with groups all across Wales.
Recently Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board teamed up with Actif Woods Project Officer Elise Hughes, as part of the Queen’s Canopy tree planting initiative at Keir Hardie Health Park, Merthyr.
Other upcoming activities from Actif Woods include a foraging taster session, more information can be found here.
Get involved
Find your nearest wellbeing walk with Ramblers Cymru
Learn about planting and other nature based activities at Meadow Street Community Garden
Discover the benefits of time spent in nature through Cynon Valley Organic Adventures
Get involved with the Bridgend Countryside Volunteers
Join your nearest Actif Woods programme or event.
In your area
Read more about the programmes and initiatives specific to your area:
Find out how our efforts to improve recycling and waste management are helping us reduce our carbon footprint and protect our ecosystems.