In this presentation we report on our multi-disciplinary research project ‘Why do we dig gardens?’ where we explored the sensory environmental quality at The Conservation Volunteers Green Gyms. Specifically, how influences participants’ nature connectedness and any improvements in participants mental health. Green Gyms involve participants engaging in environmental conservation activities for the benefit of the community and the environment. We looked at environmental quality as there is a shortage of research considering its role in effective nature-based interventions. The project took a mixed methods approach, measuring participants wellbeing and nature-connectedness through three different scales; exploring with participants their experiences of Green Gyms through semi-structured interviews; and environmental measurements. An emerging theme from the project was affective belonging, where participants discussed a beneficial sense of belonging to the group, to nature, and to the local community. All three types of belonging co-created positive influences on the participants wellbeing.