What began with nine men meeting in a room in Yorkshire has become a UK movement for suicide prevention. Now Andy’s Man Club is finding that forests can be a good place to talk, too
One day, while running through a forest as the sun glistened on the gold autumn leaves, Andy ‘Barts’ Barton (pictured) had an epiphany.
“It was like a lightbulb moment,” he recalls. “For a long time, I really struggled to live in the moment: it was something I was always searching for. But then it hit me – my head was totally clear, and I was surrounded by nature and the beautiful colours of the forest. I realised: this is living in the moment.”
Barts is one of 5,000-plus men who regularly attend Andy’s Man Club, a men’s suicide prevention charity that offers free, peer-to-peer support groups across the UK each week.
“Talking at Andy’s Man Club has saved my life,” he says. “I was going through a really dark time, and it helped me a lot. Before I attended, I thought it was only me that had these thoughts, but you realise you’re not alone. Sharing that with someone really helps subside those feelings and it makes you part of a community.”
Andy’s Man Club was founded in 2016 to provide a safe space for men to talk about their feelings. It was named after Andrew Roberts, who killed himself aged 23. The first event was held in a room in Halifax, Yorkshire, with nine men. The club has since grown into a national charity with more than 200 groups meeting every Monday across the UK. Such events have proven to be lifesaving in some instances, and the charity’s vital work was recognised in 2021 with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
“When we first started, men weren’t really talking,” says Luke Ambler, co-founder of Andy’s Man Club and brother-in-law of Andrew Roberts. “But they just needed a platform to do so, and now the attitude is definitely changing. It’s incredibly rewarding. It gives me something that nothing else ever does or will. I love leading Andy’s Man Club – it’s inspiring and impactful every single day.”
I was surrounded by nature and the beautiful colours of the forest, and I realised: this is living in the moment
As well as putting on weekly indoor events, Andy’s Man Club has partnered with Forestry England to promote positive mental health through a series of outdoor running events.
“Forestry England has some spectacular sites,” says Ambler. “When the opportunity came for Andy’s Man Club to partner with them, it was a match made in heaven. It means we’re able to take what we do nationally in these rooms and create some events out there in the beautiful scenery of England.”
That was in 2022. Since then, more than 1,000 people have connected with each other – and nature – through the events, which are open to everyone, not just men. Offering everything from 1km to 10km running routes, as well as more leisurely walking trails, all abilities are catered for.
Barts has benefited enormously from these events, he says, and now regularly takes himself off for walks in Westonbirt Arboretum, a Forestry England site that’s home to around 2,500 species of trees.
“I do believe that forest bathing is good for you,” he says. “To be in the middle of the trees and being such a part of nature is incredible. It’s total escapism for me. It takes all the stresses and anxiety of everyday life away. Which is exactly what a Monday night at Andy’s Man Club does, so it’s a perfect combination. It gets all the rubbish and negativity out of my head and just relaxes me.”
Talking at Andy’s Man Club has saved my life. I was going through a really dark time, and it’s helped me a lot
Ambler has also seen the impact of the collaboration up close. “It’s a beautiful thing to bring several hundred people together to have a run,” he says. “I’ve done it, and so have my kids and my wife. For me to be able to do something like that with my daughter is brilliant. These events are really important because it’s not just about getting men talking, it’s more than that: it’s about getting people together.”
The charity’s experience chimes with a growing body of research that links regular exercise and time in nature with improved mental health outcomes.
“We want to reach more people,” says Ambler. “Working with Forestry England is incredibly important, and we’ve got to keep these events going to maximise awareness and break down stigmas. It’s a vital part of who we are and what we do.”
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123
Images: Andy Barton photographed at Westonbirt Arboretum, a Forestry England site, by Alexander Turner