The Summer of 2022 | Week 2 - Green space, green therapy

In the depths of summer when the days are longer and the sun seems brighter, spending quality time in the great outdoors is greatly anticipated. There is something special about looking forward to a picnic in the park, countryside hikes with the dog, or a simple relaxing afternoon in the garden.

It is proven that getting out and about and experiencing all nature has to offer is beneficial for our mental health, no matter our age or where we live. This is why making time to go outside should be an essential part of your children’s school summer holidays. Last week in our series for the six-week break, we discussed balancing time online, and this week we are going to talk about creating space from the digital world.

Positive Vibes

To put it simply, people who spend time outside and have a connection to nature tend to be happier. According to the Mental Health Foundation and their 2021 report ‘How connecting with nature benefits our mental health', 70% of adults agree that being close to nature improves mood. Taking in the sights and sounds of green and blue spaces, otherwise known as green and blue therapy, creates positive emotions, enhancing feelings of joy, calmness, and creativity, and reduces worries and feelings of anxiety.

The report also says that:

• 62% of people surveyed felt benefits when spending time in the countryside
• 65% said spending time by the water has a positive impact on mental health
• 57% felt benefits from seeing nature in daily life
• 57% benefitted from spending time in the garden

To really feel the mental health benefits of green therapy, we need to do more than simply visit a local park or a nearby woodland. We need to look at the way we connect with and experience every day nature. Researchers call this human relationship with the natural world ‘connectedness.’

Connectedness

In the report, Miles Richardson, Professor of Human Factors and Nature Connectedness at Derby University, explains connectedness in detail.

“Improving people’s relationship with nature comes through simple, yet meaningful engagement with nature. For example, we found that simply tuning in and noticing the good things in urban nature led to significant and sustained improvements in people’s mental health. More widely, our research has identified five distinct types of activity that activate people’s connection with nature. The ‘pathways to nature connectedness’ provide a new approach to improving human-nature relations.”

So how can we achieve a greater sense of connectedness?

1. A mindful exercise that encourages you to notice the nature surrounding you in that moment. Take the time to smell the fresh air, listen to the buzzing of bees, feel the grass between your toes, and see which colours you can spot.
2. Talk about and reflect on how you are feeling, and how noticing your senses makes you feel.
3. Explore the beauty of where you are. This can be done creatively, through art, music, or words, to help you appreciate your green space.
4. Think about how nature brings meaning to life.
5. Being compassionate about where you are can inspire you to make ethical, environmentally friendly choices in the future, benefitting our natural world.

Where to experience nature and develop your connectedness

When we think of green areas, we tend to think of big open spaces surrounded by trees and fields, like parks and woodlands. However, time in your garden or noticing the ‘green corridors,’ the plants and flowers that line streets, can be beneficial for your mental health. For those who do not have gardens or the option to travel to nature sites, caring for indoor plants and window boxes from your home can bring positive feelings.

For those who feel calmness by the water, blue therapy spaces are any place that is close to a body of water, such as beaches and coastlines, rivers, lakes, ponds, canals, waterfalls, and even fountains.

To inspire you in your school summer break planning, here are a few suggestions for places to visit and experience nature with the family:

Northern Lincolnshire

• Bradley and Dixon Woods, Grimsby
• Cleethorpes Country Park
• Far Ings National Nature Reserve, Barton-upon-Humber
• Ancholme River, Brigg
• Humberston Fitties Beach, Humberston
• Brumby Wood, Scunthorpe

Lincolnshire

• Hartsholme Country Park, Lincoln
• Hubbard’s Hills, Louth
• Willingham Woods, Market Rasen
• Frampton Marsh RSPB Nature Reserve, Boston
• Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve, Skegness
• Chapel St Leonards Beach

East Yorkshire

• Humber Bridge Country Park, Hessle
• Beverley Westwood
• Danes Dyke, Flamborough
• Pickering Park, Hull
• Bempton Cliffs RSPB Nature Reserve, Bridlington
• Millington Woods, Pocklington

The outdoors, indoors

And one final fascinating point from the Mental Health Foundation’s report – watching and listening to nature documentaries can also have a positive impact on your wellbeing. In fact, 30% of people surveyed agreed. So, on those days when skies are clouded over and a homely, comfort day is in order, get the family together for a nature-filled watch party.

Ref: Mental Health Foundation 2021 report ‘How connecting with nature benefits our mental health'