Immersive nature, wellbeing and access through virtual reality
Overview
Resurgence VR is an immersive virtual reality experience created by AVimmerse in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust and the Carbon Landscape Partnership.
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Designed for use in care settings, community spaces and at home, the experience enables people with limited mobility, including those living with dementia, to reconnect with local landscapes, nature reserves and habitats through calm, guided immersion.
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Resurgence VR was commissioned alongside the CLAR augmented reality app, forming part of a wider programme exploring how immersive technologies can support access, wellbeing and place-based storytelling.
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Project Context
Resurgence VR was developed as part of a National Lottery Heritage Fund–supported programme focused on restoring and re-imagining post-industrial landscapes across Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
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Following extensive location research, filming took place across mosslands, meadows and wetland habitats, capturing seasonal change, colour, movement and sound using high-quality 360-degree video.
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The experience was shaped in close collaboration with project partners to ensure it could be safely and meaningfully used by audiences who may not otherwise be able to physically access these environments.
Designing for Wellbeing and Access
Resurgence VR was designed with care-led use in mind:
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Calm pacing and gentle visual transitions.
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Natural soundscapes and spoken reflections.
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Familiar local environments to support recognition and memory.
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Simple interaction models suitable for first-time VR users.
During post-production, AVimmerse combined immersive visuals with recorded voices, poetry and interviews to reinforce emotional connection and reflective engagement.
The result is an experience that prioritises presence, reassurance and sensory immersion, rather than spectacle.
Technology and Production
Resurgence VR was produced using high-resolution 360-degree video and optimised for use on standalone VR headsets.
The experience can be deployed:
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In care homes and supported living environments.
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In community and education settings.
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At home, with guidance provided for non-technical users.
AVimmerse led the project end-to-end, including creative direction, filming, post-production and delivery.
Relationship to CLAR
Resurgence VR was commissioned alongside the CLAR augmented reality app, with both projects forming part of a wider exploration into digital access to landscape, heritage and wellbeing.
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While CLAR focuses on in-situ AR storytelling, Resurgence VR provides a complementary at-home and care-based immersive experience, extending the reach of the same landscapes and narratives to audiences unable to visit in person.
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Related project: CLAR – Augmented Reality for Cultural Landscapes
Impact and Outcomes
Resurgence VR has been used as:
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A wellbeing resource in dementia friendly environments.
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A community engagement tool for heritage and landscape projects.
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A demonstration of how immersive media can support inclusive access.
The project demonstrates how virtual reality can be used thoughtfully and ethically, placing human experience and care outcomes ahead of novelty.
Interested in Similar Work?
If you are exploring ways to use immersive media to support heritage, wellbeing or access-focused projects, AVimmerse works with organisations across culture, education and the public sector to design meaningful, audience-centred experiences.
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