‘We are connected in every single way. We are nature.’ – Fearne Cotton, British broadcaster, writer and founder of Happy Place.
It's no coincidence that when many people turn into the drive at Dolbryn, they instantly feel a sense of calm, joy and peace.
And it's not all to do with the waggy-tailed welcome of the piggies either, although that definitely raises a smile for many of our campers.
Dolbryn is immersed in over 14 acres of natural beauty and abundance, and surrounded by huge amounts of rural scenery, and our brains are literally hard-wired to recognise natural landscapes as places of safety, calm and peace. The ever-present green fields, healthy trees, abundant birds and wildlife and wide skies are a perfect antidote to the chaos and grey of urban scenes, and studies show that re-connecting to nature as often as we can has a profoundly positive effect on our mental and physical health.
To appreciate just how important nature is to our mental health, we only need to remember the challenging times of the 2020 pandemic, and how, for a huge number of people across the country, spending time outdoors and in nature helped them to process and deal with the enormity of the fast-paced changes in the world around them. Many people felt aggrieved at a loss of freedom and a curtailment of adventures, but many were able to balance this by walking, running and cycling as much as they could. Gardens, parks, nature reserves and outdoor spaces suddenly became hugely important.
There have been countless studies and reports on the benefits for humans of re-connecting with the natural world. Being outdoors has been proven to help with anxiety, depression, seasonal affective disorder, ocd, low self-esteem, stress, anger and many more moderate mental health challenges. Add to that the physical health benefits, like improved cardio vascular function, weight loss and mobility.
The secret to unlocking all of these benefits is a striving for a true connection to nature.
Commit to spending time in nature, it doesn't have to be hours, a few minutes is a great place to start.
Go on holiday somewhere surrounded by nature.
Take off your shoes and socks and walk through some grass to really feel the earth underneath you.
Take your time and don't rush.
Be mindful; if your mind wanders, bring it back to what you can see and smell and feel.
Look up - at the day or night skies, and feel the vastness above you.
Listen. Open your ears to the sounds of nature.
Reach out and touch nature, gently, but the feel of leaves, the rough bark of a tree or the soft touch of moss will all evoke different emotions.
Eat outside - even if that's just taking your toast out into the garden in the morning. Take in the colours, patterns and shapes of nature as you eat.
The term hug-a-tree might sound like whimsical nonsense, but it's origins are deep-rooted. We promise that if you begin to reconnect with nature in a deliberate and mindful way, you'll feel happier, more balanced, more inspired and calmer.
For your nature fill, book your 2025 break at our beautiful, nature inspired site. www.dolbryn.co.uk
Comments