Something that the majority of us can agree on, is how great it feels to get outside and wander around in the great outdoors. Breathing in the fresh air, idolising the giant canopies of green trees providing shelter from the hot sun. The colourful, scented flowers pushing up towards the light out of the sodden earth, the bees searching through them for their sweet nectar. And when summer and autumn have come to a close and the warmer days are left behind, winter walks can equally provide us with a sense of clarity as we watch a frosty, sparkly wonderland unfurling in front of our every step.
In fact, it has been scientifically proven that being out in nature helps us to unwind, so much so that this has the positive knock-on effect of reducing stress, anxiety and even depressive symptoms. Studies have also shown that it helps to lower blood pressure, as well as providing us with some great opportunity for exercise.
“Ok, so this is a bit far out”, you may say, “and what does this have to do with the Dee Estuary anyways?”
Hang on, I'm getting to that part.
The clever forward-thinking folks over in Japan have known about this for, oh, ages and have even developed a meditative practise around it known as shinrin-yoku. This translates to English as 'forest bathing' and essentially encompasses a person bathing in a forest atmosphere and being mindful of their surroundings, truly taking everything in. During this time, the senses are ignited as nature begins to work its therapeutic magic. Practitioners of shinrin-yoku also believe that trees actually have healing powers and that being amongst trees, and in some cases, actually hugging them helps a person to take in some of these healing benefits.
“Japan?”
Oh but keep reading! All will become clear...
We may exist on entirely different planes when it comes to ecosystems and ways of countering stress, however, the one thing that we can share with the Japanese is the appreciation of the beautiful outdoors. While the idea of 'forest bathing' may seem a bit like the latest catch-word, there is a lot of method in the madness. Being in a mindful place in nature does not require dense Japanese forests or woodland. There are many beautiful green spaces in the United Kingdom that do more than just suffice. Sometimes, all we need to do is just slow down, put our worries to bed and truly take in what we see around us. Not just the birds, but the nature, the trees, the flowers, the marshes, ponds and streams.
So, as someone who likes to believe that nature helps keep us in a great mind-space, yours truly decided to volunteer herself for a bit of forest-style bathing whilst having a walk around good ol' Burton Mere Wetlands (thank me later).
Resting Spot by Paula Rees
Anyone who knows me probably also knows that my brain is constantly on hyper-drive mode, so trying to slow myself down and take in everything is no easy task. With that said, I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I tuned in to all the noises when I stepped out of the car. As I meandered past the bird feeders and into the first woodland part I decided to stop and look at the different textures of the trees. I didn't actually try and hug any - although this was mainly to save myself from strange looks and the possibility of being escorted from the premises - but I did try and imagine how long they may have been around and what outdoor conditions they have to deal with. I think that trees are quite overlooked. They are so powerful, so varied and the true super heroes to our ecosystem. I made a mental note to try and perhaps learn more about them.
I then decided to stop by the second set of bird feeders and just stop and listen. I was amused by a friendly jackdaw who didn't seem scared of me in the slightest and pattered around me, even sitting on the fence at one point not even a metre away from me. I then wandered onto the newly opened Garden Trail and watched cinnabar caterpillars munching on the ragwort, while soldier beetles attempted to both mate and fight off other male suitors at the same time! I was really impressed by all the lovely flowers of this beautiful trail and I would definitely recommend it. There's even a bench next to a gorgeous willow and overlooking the pond which is definitely great for 'zen' moments. When I left the Garden Trail I was treated to the sight of two greater spotted woodpeckers on the feeder. These birds never fail to amaze me. They always look so exotic.
Unfortunately, my trip was cut short when the clouds opened and there was a downpour and I had to rush back to the car. I must admit that on reflection, I did find that my stress levels had come down considerably and I felt quite relaxed. As I had made an effort to slow down and take in the sights, sounds and smells, I felt that I had committed more things to my memory bank also. The idea behind forest bathing is definitely a good one and although it may sound like a thinly-disguised effort to cash in on the meditative movement as of late, it certainly makes sense to me that being surrounded by the calming hustle and bustle of nature can only be of benefit to our mind and souls. Being around nature in our country has the added benefit of not potentially being eaten by hungry creature too, so go wild without fear! Don’t forget that the Big Wild Sleepout is happening at various reserves this Saturday and some upcoming dates are also shown here. Alternatively, you can do your own Wild Sleepout in your own garden anytime! Check this out!
A quick Google search shows that forest bathing has finally made its way to our fair lands. A session can set you back around £30. Alternatively, you can join up as a member of the RSPB and wander around our many amazing reserves - at no extra cost.