The Sanctuary's Nature and Healing Programme
.jpg)
The Sanctuary is delighted to officially launch our brand-new programme to the general public in January 2026!
The Sanctuary’s Nature and Healing programme
Nature-based interventions (NBIs) have gained increasing attention in recent years as a promising approach to promoting health and well-being. Research has shown that engaging with nature can have a wide range of positive effects on physical, mental, and emotional health, making it a valuable tool for improving overall quality of life.
One of the key benefits of nature-based interventions is their ability to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Spending time in natural environments has been found to lower levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, and increase feelings of calm and relaxation. This can have a significant impact on mental health, as chronic stress has been linked to a variety of negative health outcomes, including anxiety, depression, and cardiovascular disease.
In addition to reducing stress, nature-based interventions have also been shown to improve mood and emotional well-being. Research has found that spending time in nature can increase feelings of happiness and contentment, as well as reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. This may be due in part to the restorative effects of nature, which can help to replenish cognitive resources and improve mood regulation.
The programme:
Our Nature and Healing Programme was created by Jane Negrych and follows three ecologies for deepening our relationship with nature, ourselves and one another:
Ecology 1: Inspiration/ Ecology 2: Engagement/ Ecology 3:Enmeshment.
Aim of programme
The aim of the programme is to cultivate and foster a relationship with nature for the purposes of healing and strengthening mental and emotional resiliency.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the programme, participants will
· Have an understanding of nature in terms of definitions, the organisation of ecosystems and the position and role of humans within ecosystems.
· Explore the concept of inhabiting our own unique relational ecosystems.
·Have engaged with nature through horticulture and contributed to the upkeep and creation of a healing space.
· Have a set of self-help tools to help regulate emotions.
· Have a practical knowledge of how mindfulness, compassion, and movement as a means of developing self-awareness, encouraging insight, and nurturing connection to self, others and the world in which we live.
· Explore the connection between spirituality and nature as a means of finding meaning and purpose
Delivery methods
The programme is designed to be delivered in the Sanctuary’s biodiversity field and the wider Sanctuary premises, which include the library, blue room and the future garden room. It employs a combination of experiential training in mindfulness and self-compassion, engaging with nature through horticulture and regular reflective dialogue. There is some engagement with the process of creative artwork.
AUDIENCE FOR THE PROGRAMME
The Nature and Healing Programme is designed for a wide variety of people who seek to deepen their connection with the natural world through a carefully created programme underpinned by mindfulness and reflective and artistic practices.
Dates:
Saturday January 31st and Sunday 1stof February 10am-4pm
Saturday May 9th and Sunday May 10th10am-4pm
Saturday September 26th and Sunday September 27th10am-4pm
Saturday December 5th and Sunday 6thof December 10am-4pm
Early Bird Price: €500 (ends December 31st 2025)
Price after December 31st 2025: €600
Please contact James at programmes@sanctuary.ie if you would like to pay in installments.
The Programme will be facilitated by Jane Negrych. Jane is a Compassion-Based Mindfulness Teacher and Programme Developer. She has taught compassion-based mindfulness for 15 years. A former Managing Director of the Sanctuary, she now teaches the Being Present course and the 8-week MBLC Teacher Training Programme. She developed the Mindfulness and Compassion Based Professional Practice course in collaboration with DCU and has delivered the Caring for the Caregiver programme and created events like the Dawn Chorus and Waiting for the Light for the Sanctuary. Jane holds an MSc in Studies in Mindfulness, is an Honorary Teaching Fellow at the University of Aberdeen and is currently working toward an MSc in Psychotherapy.
