Nature-based Wellbeing, Creativity and Connection in Oldham

A yellow kettle placed on a metal grill over a small outdoor fire pit in a wooded area surrounded by leaves and trees.
Two wooden spoons on a wooden surface, one large and one small, in a Polaroid frame on a black background.
Two men wearing navy blue hoodies with green logo and text on the back, standing outdoors in a wooded area, engaged in conversation. Several other people are in the background, seated on logs or standing among trees.
Two smiling people standing in a river, holding their backpacks, with trees and rocks in the background.

A community woodland space supporting mental wellbeing through nature based learning, creative practice and shared experiences.

Three children are on a lake in a floating mesh tent, with one sitting on the edge, one lying down, and the third standing in the water, smiling and making a peace sign.
Person wearing a sunflower costume in a garden or field, holding a shovel, with two other people in the background.
Three children in waterproof boots and rain jackets looking at a tray of muddy water in an outdoor natural setting with trees and plants in the background.
Get In Touch

Restore

The woodland is a place of renewal, care and connection. Through Forest School–informed practice, woodland management, outdoor skills and shared tasks, we restore the natural environment while restoring our own wellbeing. Together, we create a calm, inclusive space that builds confidence and belonging for people of all ages

Create

We use making and creative practice as a way to slow down, focus and reconnect. Through traditional crafts, natural materials, shared projects and hands-on processes, people are supported to explore ideas, build skills and experience a sense of achievement in a calm, supportive environment

Connect

Connection sits at the heart of everything we do. By creating welcoming, low-pressure spaces in the woodland, we bring people together through shared experiences, practical activity and time spent alongside others, helping to reduce isolation and strengthen a sense of belonging within the community

What We Do

We deliver a range of nature-based, creative and community-led sessions for individuals, groups and organisations, shaped by the needs of the people we work with and the place we are rooted in.

Nature-based wellbeing sessions for all ages

Forest School and outdoor learning for adults, children and young people

Community days, volunteering and shared projects

Creative and traditional craft activities in the woodland

Bespoke sessions for schools, organisations and partners

See what we do

The Woodland Space

Our woodland has been carefully regenerated from an overgrown, unused space into a welcoming place for learning, creativity, wellbeing and community.

A wooded area with leafless trees and bushes near a river or stream, with a cloudy sky overhead.
A forest scene with leafless trees, moss-covered trunks, and dense underbrush on the forest floor, with some green plants and patches of grass.
A fallen tree in a wooded area is marked with a red and white traffic cone, with branches and logs scattered around.
Two people walking through a wooded area with leafless trees and bushes, sunlight filtering through the branches.
A forest floor with green plants, purple flowers, fallen logs, and trees in the background with sunlight filtering through the trees.
Two men working in a dense, green forest clearing fallen branches and debris, surrounded by trees and bushes with pink flowers.
A wooded forest trail with trees, bushes, and green foliage.
A wooded area with cut and stacked firewood and fallen branches along a forest trail.
Two young girls smiling and reacting with surprise in a lush, green forest with tall trees and dense plants.
Group of young children holding tall plant cuttings in a forested area with greenery, trees, and logs in the background.
Three people, including a man and two children, are navigating a densely overgrown forest area with fallen branches and thick green foliage.
A small stream flowing through a dense, green forest with a pile of freshly cut green plants or weeds on the muddy ground beside the water.
Children and an adult working together in a wooded area, gathering branches and clearing debris during the daytime.
A box containing small, bare tree saplings wrapped in clear plastic sleeves, with some holly leaves and berries, and a label on the inside of the lid with planting instructions and a yellow sticker.
A wooded area with several metal pipes partially buried in the ground and some charred areas, with small plants and fallen leaves on the forest floor.
A camping cooking kettle on a table outdoors with steam rising from it, surrounded by a wooded area with fallen branches and moss on the ground.
A worker operating a small white and red excavator in a dense forest area, clearing a path or trail through the woods.
A worker in a red vest operating a large crete truck through a heavily wooded area with lush green leaves and trees, clearing a path on a dirt trail.
People building a large tent in a forested outdoor area with green trees, logs, and tools nearby.
Two women working on a trail in a lush green forest, one using a compactor, the other standing with hands on hips.
An outdoor scene with a small stream in a wooded area. A black and green hammock is suspended across the stream, tied to trees on either side.
Four people, including an adult and three children, collecting water samples from a shallow stream in a wooded area, with lush green trees and foliage overhead.
A young girl sitting on the edge of a fishing platform by a body of water, holding a fishing rod.
Three children lying in colorful hammocks tied between trees in a lush, green forest.
Three young girls sitting at a wooden table outdoors, engaged in nature craft activities with leaves, flowers, and markers surrounded by dense green foliage.
A small teepee made of sticks under a fallen tree in a forest with green foliage and moss-covered ground.
Three people walking through a wooded area near a large green camping tent with a blue and white checkered flag.
Pumpkin with a carved design of a house, trees, and the word 'OUR MATT' lit from inside.
A dirt trail in a wooded area with green trees and shrubs, some logs and a small brown dog near a fire pit in the center, and a building partially visible in the background.

Get Involved

Whether you’re looking to take part, work with us, volunteer, support our work through sponsorship or donation, or simply find out more, we’d love to hear from you.

Get in touch to start a conversation and see how You Matter could be part of your journey.

Contact us

Supported by

Logo of Saddleworth Community Hydro featuring a circle with a lightning bolt, wavy water lines, and green and blue elements, with the text 'Saddleworth Community Hydro' below.
Logo of a community fund featuring a cartoon hand with crossed fingers and the text "Community Fund" with "Community" in pink and "Fund" in black.
The Woodland Trust logo featuring two stylized oak leaves, one green and one dark green, with the words "Woodland Trust" below.
Action Together logo with pink interconnected circles and blue text
Logo for the 9 Arts Award Centre featuring a large blue number 9 and the words arts award centre in blue and gray.
Trinity College London logo in purple text

We’re grateful to the organisations who have supported and enabled the development of You Matter, and to be an Arts Award validated centre through Trinity College London