May 2026 - Post-Session Reflections

Last month saw a successful programme consisting for 4 events for children, 2 for adults, and over 70 attendees across the month. I received lots of positive feedback, both verbally and via feedback forms, and a few pointers for improvements in future workshops.

Overall, the children’s workshops were very well attended, with strong engagement across all sessions. Feedback indicated that participants particularly valued the accessibility of free activities during the school holidays, suggesting that removing financial barriers played an important role in participation. The adult sessions were more challenging to recruit for, suggesting a difference in priorities and availability between children and adult audiences. Despite this, those who did attend the adult sessions reported positive experiences, describing the environment as supportive and enjoyable.

A clear difference also emerged in the nature of engagement between the two groups. The children’s sessions were highly creative and energetic, often encouraging participants to step outside of their comfort zones. This was particularly evident during activities such as the conducting game and soundscape performance, where several parents commented that they were surprised by their child’s willingness to participate in front of a large group. In comparison, the adult sessions tended to be more reflective and calm, with participants engaging more internally with the environment.

There were also some practical challenges encountered during delivery. Managing noise levels in larger groups of children made it difficult at times to project instructions clearly, and a lack of sufficient materials, such as scissors, highlighted the importance of more detailed resource planning. Within the soundscape sessions, some activities initially felt repetitive, but when I emphasised exploration and experimentation with the instruments, a more engaging and varied environment was easier to maintain. I think that the novelty of the instruments themselves was also a key factor in maintaining interest.

One of the main challenges of the project was funding, with the workshops being free of charge to maintain accessibility. While the cost of venue hire and materials needed were low, they were self-funded, which reduces the replicability of the project if no further funding is gained. As I hope to continue these workshops in the future, funding grants will be necessary to keep the project running.

Participant feedback also suggested possible directions for development. One comment highlighted the potential to explore music from a wider range of cultural contexts, and another noted that regular sessions, particularly for the choir, could help to build a more consistent participant base over time. Attendance patterns also suggested that free events can create a degree of unpredictability, with some people signing up but not attending the workshops.

These sessions have been successful in demonstrating the value of combining music and nature in both creative and reflective ways, and their possibilities when applied to healthcare contexts, such as social prescribing. They also have shown me the key practical, financial and organisational considerations that must inform any development of the project going forward.