I think most of us know that spending time in nature is incredibly good for us.

In fact, a scientific paper published in June 2019 states that a growing body of epidemiological evidence indicates that spending at least 120 minutes a week in Nature is associated with good health and wellbeing.

It goes on to say that research considering the quality of the natural environment (in terms of richness of plant and animal species) suggested that experiences are often heightened in more biodiverse settings. It is also realised that contact with nature is more than a complex multi-sensory experience and that personal histories and meanings, longstanding cultural practices, and a sense of place play some role in the benefits.

This makes sense to me in that the more wild and diverse the environment, the more there is to enjoy, see, hear and experience, and the greater the benefits. It also makes sense that we form attachments to the natural environments we like to visit and spend time in, and that local traditions, generational stories and ancient folklore are important factors in warming our hearts to particular places, which in turn makes us feel good every time we visit.

Despite the terrible things going on in our natural world in terms of pulling down trees, replacing ancient woodlands with railroads and concrete, and the devastating impact the toxicity of all manner of chemicals has on our land, rivers and wildlife, it is always a joy and often a surprise to see how much Nature thrives in sometimes the most unexpected places.

In urban environments, for example, a row of trees, a shortcut left to grow wild, a park, a small piece of woodland, a brook leading to a river, or even a disused football pitch or piece of (safe) abandoned ground, can provide all the Nature you need to relax, be still, find balance and enjoy the bounties found growing through cracks and forgotten grounds season after season. A fantastic book for ideas on how to find and enjoy Nature in our more built-up areas is A Spell in the Wild by Alice Tarbuck. It's a beautiful book full of ideas, recipes, rituals, natural spells (for the good of all) and interesting ways to get closer to Nature wherever you are.

I have spent at least an hour a day exploring my local area within about a 10 mile radius of my home near Dartmoor in South Devon during the last few years. I feel blessed to live in such a beautiful part of the world and for this reason, I am rather spoiled for choice. However, even in the countryside you are limited by the vast amount of private land or farmland which you are NOT allowed to enter. While it's great to visit the well known tourist spots, for obvious reasons, these are places to avoid at certain times of the year. This is why I am always studying maps and books to find more tucked away places that DO have access, and very often it is our beloved Public Footpaths or Public Rights of Way that come to the rescue.

With this in mind, the Ramblers have found over 49,000 miles of paths that could be lost forever in England and Wales unless we come together to save them. With the help of thousands of volunteers, they have only five years left to collect the historical, documentary evidence needed to build and submit applications to restore the most important paths for future generations and keep them on our maps. The campaign is called Don't Lose Your Way - a colossal undertaking that deserves our support.

I am a member of the Devon Wildlife Trust who have nearly 60 reserves in Devon where you are guaranteed a beautiful walk in the wild where Nature is protected and looked after to thrive in it's most natural glory. The Wildlife Trust coordinates 46 individual charitable Trusts across the British Isles with over 2,300 reserves for members and non-members to enjoy.

To get you thinking about where you could find Nature thriving in places close to you, here are some ideas based on my experience that might provide some inspiration.

Public Pathways

The laws in England and Wales provide you with the right to walk, ride, cycle and drive in public rights of way in the countryside. Public rights of way include footpaths, byways and bridleways which can be found almost everywhere covering 140,000 miles in the United Kingdom including 9,300 miles in Scotland. A good place to find out about Rights of Way and Public Footpaths in your area is the Open Spaces Society website.

Hedgerow Lanes

Don't underestimate the amount of plants and wildlife you can find in your local lanes and pathways with hedgerows, especially those that are not cut back too often. I have a created a gallery to celebrate the beauty of hedgerows with some insights on how good Nature is for us. I have also created a video about hedgerows using some of the best photographs. 

Rivers and Streams

The higher up you go, the more you find the smaller brooks, streams and tributaries running down to the main rivers. I enjoy both aspects whereby walking along a large, fast flowing river is so invigorating and often mesmerising as you tune into the energy flow of the water. Finding springs higher up on moorland or rocky ground is an exciting pursuit and this is where our country parks come in handy. Dartmoor National Park is a great example where you can travel for miles and not see anyone, and trace your steps upwards, following the fresh water streams and tributaries as you go.

Forests and Ancient Woodland

If you have an ancient woodland or forest close to you, I highly recommend a regular visit. Trees are spectacular in their generation of life-force energy and life-giving pure oxygen that we so need and love. Ancient woodlands are something else altogether, for me, they are the perfect place to lose yourself in fairy tales, ancient history and the day to day goings-on of wildlife, wild plants and fungi that have taken residence over hundreds and perhaps thousands of years. I created a video called A Walk in the Woods with favourite photographs that capture the essence of the woods for me.

Open Heathland and Moorland

I mentioned moorland above (Rivers and Streams) together with heathland are fantastic places to get out into the open fresh air and step out as if you were entering an open prairie. Often overlooked as 'scrubland' nothing could be further from the truth. I regularly visit my local heath (cared for by Devon Wildlife Trust) when I haven't got time to go to the moors. Take a look at my Heathland Gallery and a video called A Walk on the Heath which I produced with some of my best photographs.

I hope this provides a starting point for widening your net to find nature thriving in places close to you or when you are staying away from home. Often you will find nature thriving where there are historical remains and other forgotten places. There are of course the oceans, beaches and coastal paths but that's for another time.

The best thing we can do is embrace every opportunity we have to spend time in nature for even the shortest time so that we can feel and enjoy the lasting benefits.

Sue Cartwright

Spiral Leaf