Our News

Photo by Matteo Miliddi on Unsplash.

In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure world, it’s common to struggle with feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and disconnected. For those of us living in busy towns or cities, it can be easy to lose sight of the impact that nature can have on our mental health.

With Mental Health Awareness week running from the 12th to the 18th of May, we’re exploring how connecting with nature, from home gardening projects to hiking new terrains, can support our mental well-being in powerful and lasting ways.

It’s important to note that nature has a wide definition and isn’t just limited to vast green spaces like parks or forests. It can also include the likes of blue spaces such as rivers and beaches, everyday elements like indoor plants, and really ‘the general realm of living beings’ which covers infinite elements of the natural world.

So what’s the connection?

The connection between time in nature and improved mental health is well-documented. The Mental Health Foundation found that in 2021, “70% of UK adults agreed being close to nature improves their mood, and 49% said being close to nature helps them to cope with stress.” Read the full report here.

Engaging with nature can also improve sleep, boost focus and spark creativity. As our daily lives become more entwined with technology and screens, moments spent in nature can offer an important chance to slow down, reset, and reconnect.

Finding nature wherever you are

Depending on where you live, it can be difficult to know where to start. For those living in urban areas, nature can feel so out of reach. However, nature in the city isn’t absent, it’s just different – and often hidden in plain sight.

Finding a local green space or escaping the city for a hike are tried-and-true ways to enjoy nature. But if you’re looking for something a little different, here are some creative ways to bring nature into your everyday, give your mental health a lift, and engage your senses too:

Green sketching
Take a sketchpad, find a local and safe green space, and try your hand at “green sketching”. This involves observing and drawing elements of your natural environment – this could be anything from the intricate patterns of leaves to the entire landscape in front of you. It’s not about creating perfect art, rather, it’s about deepening your connection with nature through observation and creativity.

Grow your own grub
An enjoyable way to bring nature into your home is by growing your own produce – whether it’s herbs on a windowsill, tomatoes on a balcony, or an entirely new garden project, planting and nurturing your own food can serve as a simple and feel-good way to engage with the natural world whilst still in the comfort of your own home.

Create a natural potpourri
Potpourri is a fragrant mixture of dried flowers, herbs, and spices used to naturally scent and decorate a room, whilst bringing a taste of the outdoors into your home. The materials needed to create your own mix can be collected from nature, local green spaces or even your garden, creating a fun and mindful way to grow, collect and create your own personalised scent. This recipe guides you on how to forage ingredients and craft your own unique potpourri medley in a low-cost way.

Join a local community project
This year’s theme for Mental Health Awareness Week is ‘Community’. Many local communities offer gardening projects, river cleanups, habitat restoration, tree-planting initiatives and much more. Not only is this a great opportunity to volunteer your time to support your local environment but also allows you to meet new people whilst potentially learning a new skill. These opportunities can usually be found on volunteering websites, local community boards and through relevant charities.

Making Nature More Accessible: A Focus on Green Spaces

Due to UK policy planning and important work from charities such as The National Trust, more and more green spaces are popping up in urban areas.

However, it’s important to note that access to green spaces isn’t a given for everyone, with “one in three people in England not having nature near their home”. According to Public Health England’s 2020 review, it found that specific groups were more likely to be unable to access green spaces than others. These groups included people who were older, those in poor health, people of lower socioeconomic status, those with a physical disability, ethnic minorities, and people living in deprived areas, amongst others.

To combat this, many organisations are working to tackle the inequality related to access to green spaces. More specifically in the UK, charities such as Flock Together, Ramblers, Black2Nature and Sensory Trust are just a few working to make nature more accessible for those who may need it.

Get Involved

So, for this Mental Health Awareness week, we invite you to step outside and find your way back to nature. Try something new, whether it be starting your first home gardening project, discovering a new green space near you or joining a new community initiative. For insights into seasonal activities that help to engage with nature throughout the year, follow guidance from the Mental Health Foundation here.

Got any unique ideas or stories of how you have connected with nature in an urban environment? We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with us and share your tips and stories.