Nature
it through the storm
Making
As we emerge from lockdown, our interaction with the great outdoors is more important than ever.
I
t’s long been known that being outdoors and surrounded by nature has numerous physical
and mental health benefits. But never has that been more
apparent than during these wholly unnatural months of imposed confinement. Te coronavirus pandemic and
consequent restrictions on free movement outdoors has made us appreciate the simple things in life that are crucial to physical and mental health all that more. Whether you’re a key worker or
you’ve been shielding, living alone or working from home while juggling the demands of home schooling, our wellbeing thresholds have been tested to the absolute max. Te great outdoors has taken on a
new and renewed meaning for many. Whether it’s a jog in the woods, sitting in a flowery meadow, taking in a beautiful view, getting close up to wildlife or watching our children play in the sunshine, we’ve come to realise just how important nature is to our holistic wellbeing.
www.jimmysfarm.com
Long before lockdown, mental health organisations were citing the physical and mental health benefits of ‘green exercise’ and outdoor activities. According to the charity, Mind,
simple things like growing food or flowers, exercising outside or being around animals can have many positive effects, including improving your mood, confidence and self- esteem, while reducing feelings of stress or anger. Such are the myriad benefits that in 2018 the NHS in the Shetlands started offering patients with mental health and blood pressure problems nature-based activities like rambling and birdwatching. Eco therapy is a prescription like no other. “For some people, lockdown has
had a negative impact on both their mental and physical health with feelings of boredom, frustration, loneliness and anxiety,” observes Dr Bella Smith, a Suffolk NHS GP and founder of @TeDigitalGP. “For others, lockdown has been
a more positive experience with a slower pace of life where they could
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