As a society, we’re getting more and more distanced from nature. Yet spending just 2 hours a week in green spaces has been linked with people feeling healthier and happier. Actually, everyone has the right to enjoy nature, but not everyone takes the time to do so.
This is especially the case for a lot of children or families from urban areas. Did you know, in the UK, 98% of us can’t name five common tree species from looking at pictures of their foliage. 98%! And most of those people are younger than 55. I hope you are as shocked and as appalled by that as I am. If you have children, I urge you to take them outside. If you don’t have children, I urge you to take yourself outside!
To provide some inspiration, here are 10 ideas of things that anyone can do outside, completely for free!
1. Stargaze
Literally everyone has access to the night sky. Even if it’s through a window! Get some blankets, some snacks, and relax one evening with no distractions other than the vast universe above you. Also if you’re not familiar with the constellations, there’s a great free app called SkyView which can show you them. It superimposes the stars and planets onto the sky as you point your phone towards them.
2. create a picture out of things you find on the ground
I saw this cute idea on Pinterest, it would be ideal for families, but you don’t need to be a child to get creative with the things you find on the ground! You could collect stones to paint, sand to put in a bottle, leaves, pinecones, seeds, sticks and flowers! You could stick them to some paper or use them as stamps to make prints. You could create a landscape or a portrait, or create leaf animals like the picture above! You could make a ‘bouquet of flowers’ out of leaves. The ideas are endless!
The only rule is don’t pick anything that isn’t already lying on the ground!
3. go on a walk
Probably the most obvious and most accessible option of them all – walking! (or running, or cycling, or via wheelchair). Even those who live in heavily built-up areas can go for a stroll, and I’m sure will feel happier and healthier as a result.
4. wild swim
If you live near a natural body of water which allows swimming in it – congratulations! Free swimming! It’s one of my all-time favourite outdoor activities. You could take the excitement up a notch and do some snorkelling with the fins on too, if you felt the need. Also, the health benefits are excellent! Swimming is a good all-round exercise – meaning, it’s good for your heart, your muscles, your strength, your lungs, and as it reduces heart rate, it can reduce stress too!
5. go foraging
This one probably has the most risk factor and requires high attention to detail. That’s because some plants and fungi are inedible and poisonous. However, with a helpful guide and careful eye, the results of a foraging trip are only positive – free food!! And it’s healthy food too! In UK woodlands, you can find a host of edible species ready to be transformed into jams, soups, cordials, wrappings, beers, wines and liqueurs. The woodland trust has a how-to guide here. You could forage at other places too, like the beach! However, unless you’re an expert, I would suggest staying away from the mushrooms.
6. press flowers
As a keen journal-er, I love to press flowers. It’s a fun way to create a little memoir from the day – a piece of history pressed in time. Or you could use pressed flowers in a craft project, or even mounted for decoration.
7. identify plants and animals
One way to make a simple walk more fun and interesting is to take a field guide with you. You’ll gain a sense of satisfaction in knowing what to call that ‘purple flower’ or that ‘black and white bird’ that you like the look of. An essential guide book for ID’ing in the UK is the Collins British Wildlife book.
8. climb a tree
You can’t go wrong with a good tree to climb! In my opinion, it’s the best way to get up close and personal with nature.
9. go geocaching
Geocaching is a worldwide treasure hunt! With hundreds of thousands of treasure boxes, or ‘geocaches’, to find. The idea is to find a hidden box, write down your name, swap an item within the box if you want to, and re-hide the box for the next person. The website allows you to create an account so you can find local geocaches and log the ones you find. You can also share photos of your adventures, set up your own caches, and send or move ‘trackables’ – which are items that have a specific code. As they move from cache to cache, trackables can, as the name suggests, be tracked – and so you can see just how far that particular item has travelled around the world!
10. Learn how to read a map and compass
Map reading is an essential life skill! And a fab excuse to spend more time in the countryside. Once you know how to read a map and compass, you’ll never get lost again! (unless you go out without a map haha)
Basically, explore a wild area – and not the local park!
Other things to do could be having a picnic, painting or drawing, cycling or sailing. But whatever you choose, you should choose to swap the slides, swings and playing fields for a real nature experience! Immerse yourself in the beauty that is a local wildlife area. By doing so, you’ll gain an appreciation for your native plants and animals. Furthermore, how can we expect the next generation to grow up with care for their local environment if they’ve never even experienced it for themselves? The local park will not sustain biodiversity – and children need to have the opportunity to connect with a kind of ‘outdoors’ that is more meaningful, that is important to our survival.
Again, as a society, we’re getting more and more distanced from nature. Perhaps that’s partly why we’re not saving it?
By spending time outdoors we benefit from increased mental health, increased physical health, and increased knowledge about our surroundings. Climate change is a very real thing, and education is key to fighting it. From education comes an appreciation and acknowledgement of our world. You see, if one knows the name of a particular tree (or plant or animal), they will be more likely to feel care towards it. And from an appreciation of nature, comes a desire to protect it, and to take action.
