Fersiwn Gymraeg ar gael yma
In celebration of all 16-24yr olds gaining the opportunity for free entry across all RSPB Cymru reserves, we asked our young intern, Freya, to put in her own words what nature means to her.
“Calm, peace and acceptance. All words that come to mind when I think about being in nature. I was lucky enough to grow up exploring Dartmoor’s wilderness; I feel more at home in a quiet forest than I do on the busy streets of London. However, the real benefits of being present in nature is something I am only recently re-connecting with; it allows me to gain perspective on the hustle and bustle of life, to have space to let go, and to show up exactly as I am in that moment.
I am lucky enough to live in North Wales where we are surrounded by glowing mossy forests, towering mountains, and deep dark lakes. Spending time in nature forces me out of my head and into my body. Like a lot of people, I have had my fair share of run ins with anxiety and depression. This has been a catalyst into strengthening the self-care practices that keep me grounded through the rollercoaster of mental health. I think what is beautiful about being in (and in some sense a part of) nature, is that there really is no expectation, you can be happy, sad or low - there is no prerequisite or requirement of being and I find that really helpful. Nature has become a safe space where I can feel held without having to really do anything apart from be.
One of my favourite times in nature is when I hike up the mountainside next to my house to a secret lake. My legs burn from trudging up a vertical hillside, my limbs become calmer as my nervous system starts to let go, tranquillity becomes the dominant sensation as I get higher and the world gets smaller. As time goes on my senses become even more attuned with the environment and my emotions soften. I start to notice the breeze against my cheek, the marsh grass flowing in the wind, the textures of the moss and lichen against jagged rock, the curves and straight edges of the mountains in the distance. The thing I love most about being in the mountains is they have this great ability to put life into perspective, they have witnessed the depths of time - our human lifespan is so tiny in comparison, this becomes cathartic for me. Being in nature is a whole-body experience from my mind down to my toes, it feels visceral and real. I enjoy that because so much of my time is spent ruminating in my mind and I forget to connect to my body.
The benefits of spending time in nature, whether that is 5 minutes or 5 hours, will always be of value to me. There are not always words to describe the impact of nature and the benefits of experiencing it apart from it feeling like a unique type of magic. It is hard at times to grapple with mental health, however, my relationship with nature and the natural world has only improved and deepened because of my mental health and for that I will forever be grateful”.