Forest sheltering

Forest sheltering.

I went for a wander in the forest yesterday, only to be caught in several rain showers. What amazed me was how well the forest protects you from the rain. The trees were very old, tall pine trees and provided brilliant protection. In addition, I was astounded at how dark it gets when you go into a thick pine forest. It really was as though someone had turned a dimmer switch. You could imagine ancient people living amongst the trees, and using them for their benefit. Even the floor was soft and bouncy to walk on due to the pine needles that had fallen.

When one rain shower stopped I ventured out to a different part of the forest where there was bracken and it was more open. It started to rain once again, and I got wet this time. However, it was much lighter here, and when the sun came out it was beautiful to see its rays falling, shining its happiness onto the forest floor below.

There were many mushrooms to be found, once again, but you could tell that they were not going to last for many more weeks. It will be a sad time when I can no longer look for my little woodland treasures.

Prescribing nature.

Prescribing nature.

Montgomerynews.com has shared an article about forest bathing and its health benefits. The article suggests that green plants and open spaces can heal us.It informs us how the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia clinic are prescribing nature for overweight children, and those with ADHD.

Also, the article explains other investigations which have gone ahead in relation to the power of nature. It is an interesting read. I especially enjoyed the part about a lower mortality rate and fewer stress hormones if you lived near a green space.

So, for your own health you should get outside. Find a green space and go for a wander. Look at what is around you; smell the air; feel the trees and let your mind be amazed. If you can’t get outside for whatever reason, then you know where you can go for a nature fix. The woodland wanderings website is here for those moments when the weather is bad, or you simply have run out of time. It can be your fall back, so that you can get your moments in nature. You can even share and discuss the photos on the website with others, and see if next time, when  you are forest bathing,  you can see a mushroom or a spring flower.

Montgomery News link.

Yoga and forest bathing

Yoga and forest bathing

I have just read an interesting article from Huffington Post, which states that a forest bathing expert has predicted that in 30 years yoga and forest bathing with be just as normal a practise. How amazing will this be! To think of a future where people are looking after natural environments, so that they can go an enjoy their health benefits.At present, when I mention forest bathing to people they look at me in a strange way and think that it has something to do with taking a bath in the forest. So, to make people aware of the health benefits of wandering in nature will be brilliant.

This weekend, for example I took a friend for a woodland wander, rather than a walk, and she was amazed by what she has been missing as she would normally walk at a much faster pace through the woodland. It can take a while to train yourself to stop and look at what is actually around you. We saw several different types of mushroom, one of which definitely looked like a face. Also, we saw that only some of the holly bushes were producing berries ready for the winter. It was lovely to see the different shades the berries were, as opposed to the pure reds that we associate with them for Christmas.

Huffington Post and forest bathing link.

Pine cones

Pine cones.

My Instagram photo today was of some pine cones. I don’t know what it is about them, but I have always loved them. In previous years I have collected them, tied ribbon to the top and hung them on my Christmas tree. Recently, I read how you can put oils on them to scent your home, which sounds like a pleasant idea. I would love to find some huge ones for display, one day.

Last week, I went pine cone hunting near my home. I was very disappointed that they were still on the trees, and the ones that were on the floor were from the previous year and had been severely nibbled at. Not to be put off, however, I went on a wander in a woodland further afield. There to my delight were lots of pine cones on the floor, all sat upon leaf litter in the sun. Due to this they were dry and had fully opened up. I wasn’t sure if they had dropped off early, or due to their vast number hadn’t had chance to be eaten by local wildlife.

Huffington Post website have got a very interesting article informing you of 13 things that you might not know about pine cones. I enjoyed reading it.

Huffington Post pine cone facts link

Mushroom spotting.

Mushroom spotting.

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, this is the perfect time of year to get outside and go mushroom spotting. There are so many varieties everywhere at the minute. You can find them in your garden; lurking by the wayside; on the side of rotting wood; at the bottom of trees; or even hidden amongst leaves and mosses. The weather has been perfect for them.

People can be afraid of mushrooms, due to their reputation of some of them being poisonous. However, if you are informed, and are aware of their dangers, then you can actually become fascinated by their many varieties and what they do for the planet. This is why I have created another post about them. For example, I found an interesting article on the RSPB website that explains how without fungi many animals and plants would not exist. Also, it  states that they are neither an animal or a plant. The Woodland Trust website mentions how there are over 15,000 species of fungi in the UK alone.

My only concern, after looking at the poisonous mushrooms is that they look very similar to the edible varieties, so I would never be tempted to pick and eat any. I am also very tempted to get a spotters guide. It is good fun to keep a look out on your wanders and see how many varieties you can find.

RSPB Information about fungi link.

Rainy day

Rainy day.

It’s a rainy day outside today. There is nothing more amazing than going outside into nature when it is raining. Just as going out into a forest when it is sunny can be an amazing experience, so a rainy day can be too. I suppose that we all panic when it starts to rain and we head for cover, which is natural if there is torrential rain. If it is light rain, then it can be exhilarating. I often find that it makes me feel alive to feel the rain pattering onto my face. You will notice on the sound section of my website there is a video clip of rain falling on leaves. Personally, I find this to be a lovely sound, which helps me to feel calmer. I also love to see plants and flowers with rain drops either dripping off, or balancing on top of. There are so many photographs taken by photographers of this across the Internet. Rain also brings out different smells within nature. Petrichor (when rain falls on dry soil) is a favourite smell amongst some people. Forests and woodlands also bring out different smells from the leaf litter and undergrowth. You could go one step further and even feel the damp grass between your toes: if you are feeling adventurous…

What is Petrichor ? Click the link to see what The Atlantic Magazine suggest.

Fungi everywhere

Mushroom explosion.

Due to the damp, warm weather of August there appears to be fungi everywhere. Wherever you turn, in gardens, by the wayside mushrooms are popping up before your eyes. I must admit that I didn’t really have a major interest in them, until I began forest bathing. Now, I relish the thought of discovering another variety. There are so many out there to discover. Such a range of shapes and colours. I have to admit that they also can look fairy/magical like when you discover them in the woods snuggled up to the vibrant-green moss. I have put a few of them onto my Instagram page recently, but you will also begin to discover them amongst my season photographs.

I decided to follow a number of people on Instagram who appear to have a large knowledge of fungi. They have many photographs of numerous varieties of mushrooms which they have shared. It is interesting to read their names, and whether they can be eaten, or are poisonous. What is scary for me is that there are so many that look very similar, and I don’t think that I would ever be confident enough to actually eat any that I have found on my wanders, even if I thought that they were the edible variety.

Is September the start of autumn?

Is September the start of autumn?

September is upon us, and everyone is yelling, on social media, about how autumn is upon us. They are asking us if we have seen the signs of autumn. In my previous posts, I expressed my findings of an early autumn, with the blackberries changing colour, and plums falling off the trees. Consequently, a lot of the blackberries, locally, have begun to go mouldy, and are past their best.

There are many beautiful photographs of heather to be taken at the moment. Heather always reminds me of autumn brightening up the brown-bracken hillsides.

I, for one, are hoping for a drier September than August and for the gradual turning of the leaves on the trees. (Keep a look out for photos)

Mushrooms always remind me of autumn. Due to the damp, warm weather of August there are lots of fungi to be found. So, I will be going for a wander with my fungi glasses on to see how many different varieties I can find. I am always impressed by how well camouflaged some of the mushrooms are within woodland settings.  Often, I have  missed them when I have been out on a walk, before I began forest bathing.

CNN explains it’s about engaging your senses.

Engaging your senses.

Fantastic video and explanation regarding the health benefits of forest bathing.CNN explains how even 15 minutes forest bathing can have a positive effect on your stress levels and blood pressure. You need to be engaging your senses.

6 Million Years Outside

They remind us how we have spent 6 million years outside with nature, so that it is natural for us as humans to be out there. We need to reconnect with nature, not on a rushed hike, but taking it slowly and using all of our senses to experience what is around us.

How many times have you gone on a walk, checked your watch before, and and been proud of yourself when you got home under an allotted time? We need to take the time to walk and actually appreciate what is around us. Stop and use your nose to smell the forest air, and realise that it is different from that on your street. Actually look and see what is beneath your feet. See the light glinting off the raindrops on the grass. Listen to the wind blowing the leaves and the sound of the birds singing. You will be amazed what is out there…

CNN forest bathing and your senses article.

Forest bathing reducing stress levels

Forest bathing reducing stress levels

Forest bathing reducing stress levels is discussed by NPR (National Public Radio), in their very informative article below. It explains how forest bathing can be used to reduce stress and uplift people’s moods, and help boost immunity. Furthermore, it explains how blood pressure can be lowered by walking in a forest. In addition, it questions if forest bathing could be used as a form of medicine.

From reading this article, I would say, why not get outside yourself, and feel the benefits that a walk in nature has to offer. So, why don’t you see for yourself how better you feel after a wander outside in nature. You never know, it could make your day.

NPR forest bathing can boost immunity and mood article.