Nature and your phone.

Nature and your phone.

An interesting article came out yesterday, on the Austin Monthly website, which was discussing nature and your phone. I often see people out on walks with their phone held in their hands. They will be checking up on social media, or replying to texts. It is such a shame, as they are missing out on the amazing thing which is nature. They are not hearing the sounds, or seeing what is there. They are not discovering new things. The mobile phone is such a big part of most people’s lives nowadays, but there is a place for it. To experience nature as it should be you need to leave technology behind and use all of your senses. The author of the Austin Monthly article as amazed at how you can get connected with nature, if you only put your phone away.

Despite this, I must admit that most of my photographs are taken on my mobile phone, as I love to capture them for your viewing on this website. I find that quickly pulling a phone from my pocket is much easier than carrying a large camera around with me. I can also keep it hidden away, unless I need it for the perfect shot.

Austin Monthly forest bathing article link.

Vogue On Forest Bathing

Vogue Forest Bathing.

Vogue Australia has recently produced a website article on forest bathing and its benefits. It explains how Japan has been using it within their health programme since 1982. Also, it mentions how it is popular on social media at the moment. (Maybe they are referring to my Instagram account! It must have been my 500 followers post that did it.) Again, it reminds us how forest bathing can reduce anxiety, stress and blood pressure. Finally, it states that research is suggesting that it can increase the activity of  our white blood cell count to fight viruses and tumours. All of which sound amazing to me, and of course it is all free, can fit into your lifestyle and helps protect natural environments. It sounds like a win win for everyone.

Vogue website link.

It is amazing to see that it is is not just newspapers or health magazines who are now explaining the benefits of shinrin yoku. Promoting forest bathing is important. If more of the population realise its benefits, they are more likely to protect the woodlands and forests, rather than see them disappear underneath yet another housing estate. Forest bathing can have such a positive impact on people’s health. We should be re-connecting with nature and feeling its benefits.

Fly Agaric, Or Amanita Muscaria Mushroom

Fly Agaric, Or Amanita Muscaria Mushroom.

The Fly Agaric, or Amanita Muscaria mushroom is a wonderful mushroom to find on a nature wander. It has long been associated with fairy tales and fairies. I have seen countless photographs of it on Instagram or the past few weeks, and have been quite jealous over the people who have found it. This weekend, however, I managed to stumble across it in two separate places. One was hidden deep within a forest, and the other was just sat there by the side of the road. It was a good weekend…

What I hadn’t realised was that the Fly Agaric can start off looking orange in colour, and then change to red. I also didn’t know that it got its name, possibly, from medieval times when it was broken up and put into milk to stupefy flies. In addition, I didn’t know that its white scales can be washed off. What I did know was that it is toxic. I suppose that its bright red warning colour should be a clue, however, children might not think so. Its association with fairies could lure youngsters to picking them. Apparently, it also has folk lore connections to Father Christmas, which make an interesting read.

Forest bathing website articles

Forest bathing website articles.

Once again, forest bathing website articles are being published. It is so amazing that people are taking notice, and discussing the health benefits of trees and nature. The GreenBiz website, today, explains in depth about how forest bathing began, and scientific research surrounding it. It also mentioned about the benefit of street trees, as opposed to garden trees. We often forget about the trees in the street, and yet we probably have more contact with them every day than we do the ones in our back garden.

GreenBiz website article link.

It was great to see that the Reader’s Digest website has also produced an article. They give a five step guide to forest bathing. Fantastic for my website, they wrote that some studies suggest looking at images of nature can also lower stress levels. So, why not sit back for a while and de-stress yourself amongst the leaves and mosses.

Reader’s Digest website link.

Forest creatures

Forest creatures.

When you think about going for a wander through a forest you initially think of looking at the trees, not looking for forest creatures. This is natural, as they are huge and there in front of you. Often, you will consider the possibility of seeing a squirrel, rabbit or even a deer. Probably you wouldn’t think about the little creatures which also inhabit the forest. These are the ones which fascinate me the most. I have spent so much of my life watching rabbits hopping around and squirrels leaping form tree to tree, that I feel that I know their story. The small creatures that live in the forest I haven’t noticed. I’ve been too busy watching the creatures that show themselves to me, rather than looking for the creatures that don’t.

On my recent wanderings I came across a little frog leaping around amongst the autumn leaves. I must admit that I didn’t expect to see one in the middle of a forest.

On the edge of the forest there was an abundance of clovers. Amongst those were lots of crickets/grasshoppers (I am never sure what the difference is between the two) making their noises and jumping around. It was a lovely thing to see on an autumn day.

Forest bathing guide

Forest bathing guide.

Do you need a forest bathing guide? Many people have looked blankly at me when I have suggested having a go at forest bathing. It is not a phrase which is used in everyday conversation. Their immediate response is to think that I am strange and enjoy having a bath in the forest. I have then explained to them that is is about wandering in nature and they often look just as confused. People tend not to wander anymore. The pace of life is so fast with most people going for a run or a power walk, and think that walking slowly and looking at things is not a form of exercise, and so is a waste of their precious time.

It is a shame that the world has become such a fast paced place to live in. You never get the chance for your body to slow itself down and de-stress, or appreciate the beauty of things that surround you. We are constantly bombarded with images of items which we are supposed to need and want, rather than looking at and experiencing the free things which are out there on our door step. I was once one of those people and had lost connection with nature. It is an easy thing to do.

The Grow Wild website has a very simple forest bathing guide to instruct you how to partake in this wonderful experience.

Grow Wild Forest Bathing Guide link

The autumn floor

Autumn floor.

The autumn floor of a wood or forest, is not necessarily the place that you would look, when seeking out the beauty of the season. Therefore the forest floor is often overlooked. Yet, this is the place that the leaves, berries, nuts and pine cones end up. I was amazed at how beautiful it looked.

Coincidentally, this week, the Woodland Trust on their Instagram page, put a message about looking on the forest forest and being amazed about what you can see there. Naturally, I left a message in regard to my Instagram photo of the forest floor and forest bathing.

Once it has begun, autumn seems to progress rapidly. You can see this from my second photo taken only a week later. Finally, I cannot believe how quickly the acorns are turning brown, and the leaves are losing their colour.

The Woodland Trust website has a lovely page, which explains about eating acorns in various guises. You can make acorn coffee, roast acorns, make acorn brittle, add them to a stew or even make acorn flour. I must admit that I am very tempted to try out some of these things. I have provide the link below if you fancy having a go too.

Acorn recipes on the Woodland Trust website.

Autumn Equinox

Autumn Equinox

Autumn Equinox /Astronomical Autumn is finally here. There has been so much anticipation of it being autumn. So many times people have questioned the arrival of autumn this year. Astronomical Autumn lasts from 22 September until 21 December 2017. Apparently, on the Autumn Equinox both day and night are of equal length. The astronomical calendar sets the seasons, due to the Earth’s tilt.

Meteorological Autumn began on1 September and ends on 30 November 2017. This type of autumn is related to the four seasons, with each of the seasons being made up of 3 months. Forecasters will find the four, equal in length seasons, easier to link their data to.

The Met Office website has a brilliant page, which easily explains the two versions of autumn, along with useful diagrams. Personally, I think that perhaps the Meteorological Autumn is more accurate this year, due to the early ripening of berries and fruits, which I observed. (You can see pictures of these within my slideshows.) Some of the berries were ripening in August/July time, so I think that maybe the seasons have shifted slightly this year. If this is the case, then maybe we will be in for an early winter.

Met office link

Mushroom munchers

Mushroom munchers.

Whilst taking my woodland wanders, I have come across evidence of mushroom munchers. Holes either at the side, or on top of the fungi. Often I have wondered what has been feasting upon them, and to my delight I spotted some of the creatures responsible the other day. Slugs. They were having a wonderful time, in the damp weather, eating their way in and out of the mushrooms. As you can see from the photo it was happy days for them.

I have also spotted woodlice, on previous visits to the woods, having their lunch  on the mushrooms there.

This interesting article, from the Scientific American website, explains how one species of nomadic ant, in Malaysia, relies on a mushroom as its primary food source.

Scientific American link.

Along with these small creatures, there are many larger animals which also eat mushrooms as part of their diet, such as mice, squirrels, deer, rabbits, wild boar and of course humans. Although, as humans we do tend to buy mushrooms from the shops, as if you are an inexperienced mushroom picker, it could have life-threatening consequences. Deer and rabbits can eat mushrooms which are deadly to humans. Therefore, it is not safe to assume that if a creature has eaten a variety, then you can too.

Spider web

Spider web.

I went spider web hunting yesterday, as it was foggy. I love it when there is mist in the morning, as it makes the world a magical place. When the mist catches onto the web it looks like tiny diamonds, just hanging there. It always amazes me how many webs there are, as normally you don’t notice them. Until you accidentally walk into them, of course. At least on foggy days there is a warning that spiders are about.

There is a very interesting article on the BBC website, which explains about spider webs and how the water droplets form on the threads to look like jewels. When the silk fibres get wet, they shrink and smooth out and force the  water towards the bumpy knots that the spider has made. Very interesting…

BBC article about spider webs link.