Green Health Link Worker Louise, from the Cairngorms National Park Authority explores what nature connection means to her, whilst Gavin shares an easy nature connection activity that can be done anywhere.
I love the walk to drop off my son at nursery in the morning – the movement and fresh air sets me up for a day of work. It rained overnight, so the air is damp but fresher than it’s been. As we set off, he notices a blackbird hopping on the grass outside our house, probing for earthworms with his brilliant orange bill. “Blackbird” I say, and he repeats it in his toddler gargle. We walk along the pavement, him perched on my shoulders, and hear a song thrush whistling loudly from the top of a tall tree – a repetition of two or three phrases, sung with all his might. We’ll probably hear him again on the way home. The verges are carpeted with cuckoo flowers, bluebells and bright yellow dandelions – a welcome flash of colour after a long, wet winter. We pass a cherry blossom and hear the hum of a hundred bees feeding on its flowers. The leaves seem to have suddenly unfurled, bringing a vibrant, bright canopy of green that we walk beneath. We pass a few puddles, and he jumps right in!
For me, nature connection is all about slowing down and noticing the world around me. As much as I love the mountains and wild places of the Highlands, I’ve learnt in recent years, that you don’t need to go far to experience and feel the benefits of nature. Listening to birds and learning their songs, noticing wildflowers appear through the season, or simply enjoying the beauty of dappled sunlight through the trees – this is what connecting to nature means to me now. As a busy, working Mum, it’s not always easy to find this time, but making a conscious effort to take notice on our walks or when out and about, feels important to me now. Walking, or simply pausing for five minutes, brings me a sense of calm, renewed energy and allows me to forget about the to-do list of life. I had to teach myself to slow-down and take notice, but having done that, I now know I can find awe and wonder in the “everyday” nature around me, and feel its benefits, quite literally, from the doorstep.
Nature connection means different things to different people. For some, it’s being physically active in nature, for others it’s learning or volunteering and for many, it’s simply breathing fresh air and feeling the sun on your face. What does nature connection mean to you? And what can you do this Green Health Week to connect with it? Green Health Link Worker Gavin shares a very easy ‘sit spot’ activity you could try…
Sit Spot Nature Connection Activity
A sit spot is a personal place of your choosing where you can come to tune into your environment and connect to nature. It can be somewhere at home, in the garden, on your street or in a local place of nature. Your sit-spot can be used as a place to tune in to your surroundings and connect to nature, and after some practice, can be a valuable skill for mindfulness.
Step 1: Pick a Spot
Find a comfortable location, with some pleasing natural elements, ideally local to you and within walking distance. It could be on your commute or journey to the shops. When picking your spot, you may want to consider;
- Comfort. Is their bench or somewhere comfortable to sit?
- View. Is the view pleasant and include natural elements?
- Noise. Consider somewhere away from traffic, where you can appreciate the sounds of nature.
- Other People. You may want to find somewhere less busy, where other people won’t distract you from connecting to nature.
Picking a spot that can be a regular place for you to visit can give you a greater appreciation for that place and give you a deeper insight in simple changes of the season.
Step 2: Take a Seat
Once you have your chosen spot, you can try to sit and simply ‘be’ for a short number of minutes. You might find starting with 10 minutes easiest, but this can be built up to 20- or 30-minute sessions.
Focus on each of the senses. What can you see, feel, hear, smell? Try focusing on one sense at a time (e.g. what is the furthest thing you can hear?).
Think about what colours, shapes, patterns you can see. Is there any wildlife that reveals itself during your stay?
Upon revisiting the spot, what has changed from last time?
What to bring
- Think about the weather and bring any clothing that will make you feel comfortable.
- A sit-mat can be used to insulate you from the bench or ground.
- A watch, if you need a way to keep track of time during your sit.
- A sketch book or camera. These can be used as variegations to the sit-spot, and you can try drawing or photographing nature as a way to interact with your environment.
Louise and Gavin are Green Health Link Workers, working for the Cairngorms National Park Authority delivering Nature Prescriptions in Badenoch and Strathspey in partnership with NHS Highland. They support people to find ways to use nature and the outdoors to help them feel better and happier. Contact them at natureprescriptions@cairngorms.co.uk to find out more.
Image – Louise Emslie, Cuckoo flowers and dandelions in spring