FfFfFfFF 58,371 Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 “It sounds dramatic, but this place saved my life,” says Wendy Turner, looking out over the Steart salt marshes in Somerset. “I am really loving the colours of all the marsh grasses at the moment, and the flocks of dunlin and plover. The light is just so beautiful.” Turner was once a high-flying international project manager. “But the Covid pandemic resulted in me losing everything – my business and my home – and I had years of abuse in a marriage.” In July 2020, she attempted suicide and woke up in A&E. But then she discovered the Steart nature reserve: “If you can just be quiet, you can find your balance again. I feel like everything is possible here.” Turner is one of the fast-growing number of people using nature to improve their health and wellbeing and she is now helping to boost the rise of “green social prescribing,” where health and community services refer people to nature projects. She has helped co-create a mental health and nature course with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), which manages the Steart reserve, and The Mental Health Foundation. There is already good evidence of nature’s efficacy, such as a 2019 study showing that a two-hour “dose” of nature a week significantly improved health and wellbeing. The missing link has been connecting health services and nature activities. “These activities have being going for years, it’s just that they often have not had that connection into the health systems to enable them to receive the people who need the benefits the most, and to deliver precisely what they need,” says Dave Solly, at the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP). Source - https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/oct/09/these-salt-marshes-saved-my-life-how-nature-is-helping-mental-health Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuffsAhoy 7,433 Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 I went to college at Appalachian State, which is in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. I cannot stress enough how being able to escape to the Parkway and hike the hundreds of trails within the mountains helped my mental health when life was getting stressful. I miss living there quite often. You remind me that it's such a wonderful thing to love. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LastNight 5,943 Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 It’s a beautiful thing. I live right next to a park and I hate to admit that pre-pandemic I didn’t make much use of it besides a quick route in to the city, but since lockdown I’ve completely fallen in love with it and it’s truly been a life saver. Watching it come into bloom in spring and summer and change for autumn is so special. It was particularly lush at the end of September: just so beautiful to be in. It’s city-centre adjacent so unfortunately the railings and walls get graffitied from time to time, and over summer people left a lot of litter (which always boggles my mind), but I just got myself a litter picker to do my part to help keep it tidy. It’s so special to have a slice of nature on your doorstep, no matter how small. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fame Monster 4,554 Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Welcome to Finland! We have a lot of beautiful nature and lakes here! Find your freedom in the music Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 I find so much peace when im near nature, then when im back to the city my mind is clouded again. i love being around birds and hearing them or dogs, and trees and water, it just makes such a big difference to your mood Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaUniverse 4,575 Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 I find this true a lot for me, I've started taking more walks because of quarantine in lieu of taking the bus, and it's been a relief to clear my head listening to the early morning sounds. Perfect now that fall weather is coming into full swing in my town 1# Samoyed Stan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PunkTheFunk 125,719 Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 It's almost like humans' natural habitat is in nature and not structures made out of concrete...Interesting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focus 2,456 Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 me who lives in a flat mainly-desert country: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mother of Puppies 36,615 Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 I live on the countryside in a village just by the fields and forests… It’s definitely nice to be in nature - especially all alone so I can listen to the birds and watch some deer 🦌 THEY CALL ME LADY MOP Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
River 127,769 Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 I started to hate nature since I moved to costa rica So sploosh your juice all over me you Riverboy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAMROD 117,269 Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 I thought you meant to say people are going hunting more (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ✧*:･ﾟ ᶠʳᵒⁿᵗ ᵗᵒʷᵃʳᵈ ᵉⁿᵉᵐʸ (*´艸｀*) ♡♡♡ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkmanthaC 115,066 Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 3 hours ago, HuffsAhoy said: I went to college at Appalachian State, which is in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. I cannot stress enough how being able to escape to the Parkway and hike the hundreds of trails within the mountains helped my mental health when life was getting stressful. I miss living there quite often. Second this. I’m hoping to go to Boone next weekend for fall colors. (Former App grad as well. Also got my school admin license from there, just did that online.) she/her/hers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaLuna 12,732 Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 As we all should. Nature and animals are about the only things that ground me and keep me sane in this crazy, sh*tty world. I wish I could move to the countryside At the very least I'd love to do another seaside retreat like the one I did 8 years ago, for a whole week, nothing but meditation, yoga and walks on the beach. It was absolute heaven Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Economy 52,907 Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Not surprising. Our world isnt ideal for pur mental health Anyone wonder why our mental health is getting worse and worse? Is everyone suddenly getting biological inbalances in huge numbers to result in poor mental health? While genetics play a role in everything i do believe the mental health epidemic crisis is more environmental of our societies environments and circumstances Its also why i get mad meeication is over emphasized as the main way to manage it (even tho i agree it has its place) I used to have severe mental health issues (hospitalized twice for suicide attempts even) so I think i know a little about what im talking about... ive felt much better the last 2 years learning to deal with it, natural therapies and attitude and thought re-direction techniques than I felt when I was on double the medication dose I am on now (hoping to be fully off within the next several months if doctor still supports it) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dojo 19,823 Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 26 minutes ago, River said: I started to hate nature since I moved to costa rica i feel you! is very wild. USA, Canada and other parts of the world have some beautiful forest but here in latinamerica nature is a little more challenging, different animals, mosquitoes, snakes, crocodiles, the weather is more intense too Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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