A nature advocacy group wants people to make the most of the great outdoors.

Stepping into Nature, a lottery funded project aiming to use Dorset’s landscape to provide activities for older people, is recommending that people living with dementia take part in outdoor pastimes for Dementia Action Week.

The organisation offers dementia friendly activities such as gentle walks across woodlands, coast and parks and discovering poetry, history, woodworking, and rural crafts.

Stepping into Nature states that getting outdoors can help as a mood boost, but that any activities need to be accessible to people with dementia.

Julie Hammon, Stepping into Nature’s project officer, said: “Obstacles like stiles, steep hills, uneven terrain and confusing signage can be off-putting.

“All our activities suit an older age group by favouring flatter ground, having more places to sit and shorter distances.

“Staff and volunteers also receive dementia awareness training ensuring all our activities are dementia friendly.

“Through our events people are making friends, learning new skills, becoming more confident and are just happier and more active.”

Dementia Action Week, a campaign aiming to improve the lives of people with dementia, runs from May 20 to May 26.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, someone in the UK develops dementia every three minutes.

The charity says that Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, with more than 520,000 people in the UK having a form of dementia caused by the condition.

The Alzheimer’s Society aims to raise money both the help fund research into dementia and support people with the condition.

They intend to ensure that by 2022, all people diagnosed with dementia will have an offer of support and will be better able to manage the condition.

The Stepping into Nature project is led by Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, one of 38 such areas on England and Wales.

The Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers over 40% of the county.

Stepping into Nature is a Lottery Funded project of £320,000 and is to last for three years from 2017-2020.

To find out more about their activities, visit www.stepin2nature.org