Countryside Team Supports Mental Health CIC Through Charcoal Making at Offwell Woods
The East Devon Countryside Team recently welcomed Discover Your Doorstep CIC to Offwell Woods near Honiton for a hands-on morning of charcoal making.
Discover Your Doorstep is a Community Interest Company (CIC) that supports adults experiencing mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. Through new experiences and skill-building, the CIC helps participants grow in confidence and connect with the areas around where they live.
A group of participants visited Offwell Woods near Honiton for a guided nature walk and charcoal making session with Nature Reserves Ranger Ben Morgan-Brown.
The day began with Ben explaining how the Countryside Team manages local nature reserves for the benefit of both people and wildlife, and how wood plays a vital role in supporting ecosystems. When trees are cleared for access or safety reasons, the leftover wood is put to use either being left in situ to create wildlife habitat or collected and transformed into charcoal using a large kiln called a retort.
The ‘Wild East Devon Nature Reserve Charcoal’ produced at nature reserves across the district is 100% natural and free from the chemicals often found in mass-produced alternatives.
Nature Reserves Ranger, Ben Morgan-Brown said: “Turning a waste product into something useful is incredibly rewarding. Doing it alongside individuals working to improve their mental health made it even more meaningful. Everyone got stuck in, and I hope they left with new knowledge about conservation and a bit of inspiration to explore the outdoors further.”
Katie Hansford, Director said: “It was a real pleasure to bring some of our participants to Offwell Woods to spend time in nature and learn how the site is managed. We’ve had wonderful feedback with participants noticing a boost in their mood after time outdoors and a boost in confidence after trying something completely new. We’re thrilled to be working with the East Devon Countryside Team and look forward to more days like this.”
To find out more about Wild East Devon charcoal visit:Produce from our Nature Reserves
To discuss partnership opportunities, contact: wild@eastdevon.gov.uk