A Mindfulness Bench which aims to raise awareness of mental health has been installed along the Stratford Greenway - located nearby to our Fernleigh Park development in Long Marston - after we teamed up with the local mental health charity, Springfield Mind.
The bench has several messages inscribed on it, with an accompanying plaque offering pastoral support from, and further information on, Springfield Mind. Or for those simply needing a moment to themselves, the bench can be used to enjoy some quiet contemplation in amongst the 52 acres of green space and Warwickshire countryside surrounding the development.
The install of the bench follows a previous mindfulness initiative by Cala, which provides another opportunity for residents to take a quiet moment to relax. Located beside the marketing suite, a tranquil sensory garden has been specifically landscaped to feature an abundance of olfactory herbs, shrubs and flowers - selected to attract pollinators and to ignite the senses.
Katie Harwood, Springfield Mind’s Service Lead for Wellbeing for Warwickshire, said: “Springfield Mind is delighted to have installed the Wellbeing Bench at Fernleigh Park. The benefits of how nature and the outdoors can support and improve people's mental health are well documented and we hope it will help start conversations about mental health within the community."
We're currently building 246 two, three, four, and five-bedroom homes at Fernleigh Park, Long Marston. Once complete, it will see the regeneration of the old Long Marston Airfield site into a new village community; with amenities including a community hub and cycle paths linking it to the popular Stratford Greenway route.
Fernleigh Park's semi-rural Warwickshire location is complemented further by its expansive 52 acres of green space and outdoor amenities – nearly half the total site - including wildlife ponds, play parks, sport pitches, allotments and a community orchard alongside the sensory garden already in place.
Encouraging biodiversity was a key consideration for the design of the overall development. Over 50 different tree species are set to feature on site, including native, flowering and berry bearing species to provide structure and improve biodiversity. Many of the trees and plants have been specifically chosen as pollinators to support insects, bolstered by incorporating different grassland and wildflower meadows to the wider scheme.
Neil Simpson, Sales and Marketing Director for Cala Homes Midlands, said it has been a joy to see the first residents move in and to see the development’s community start to grow.
“With the first residents moving into their new homes, it has been great to see the benches used by the development’s residents and locals alike – for them to take a moment and contemplate in the great outdoors.
“Spending time surrounded by nature has a proven long-term impact on mental wellbeing, and I think both the sensory garden and the benches will be an excellent way for the community to get outdoors more to enjoy their surroundings to the fullest.”
For more information on this mental health charity, please visit Springfield Mind, and for further support, please contact the Mental Health Matters Support line on 0800 616171.
Call our sales team on 01789 863 941 or visit our Fernleigh park development page for futher information.
