Forest Therapy

Tags

Adventure, Adventure Revolution, Belinds Kirk, Bluebells, Buckinghamshire, Forest Therapy, Forests, Hiking, Mental health, Well-being

This weekend my cousin and I trekked through Church Woods and Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire, England. We were blessed with endless sunshine, making it the kind of day that we wished our legs wouldn’t tire so that we could keep on exploring.

The start of the walk opened us up to a day of possibilities

The clear blue skies, the ripe green fields and trees in full bloom provided us with all the necessary resources for our minds to be filled with peace and calm.

In full bloom

The most spectacular part of the day, however, was being witness to the floral tapestry made up by the bluebells that covered the forest floor.

Spring in action

The day was completed with a few moments of calm by a serene lake before the final walk back to the car.

Bonus water therapy

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A FOREST STROLL?

In her book ‘Adventure Revolution’, Belinda Kirk advocates that there are a number of physical and mental health advantages that spending time in a woodland setting can provide. These benefits include a healthier cardiovascular system and reduced stress levels. However, the author points out that the effects are much deeper as the trees and soil are actively helping us.

Kirk points out that studies have shown that trees let out phytoncides which benefit our immune systems to fight communicable disease and tumour development. There’s also evidence to suggest that a certain soil bacteria can bolster us against stress.

Knowing such things gives me a deeper connection with our planet, and makes me want to spend more time in the open.

Nature is the gift that keeps on giving

I hope that you all have a chance to take a hike and embrace the healing properties of nature soon.

Walking Round In Circles Close To Home

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Adventure, Blogging community, Hiking, hobbies, Inspiration, local, Mental health, Motivation, Street, Travel, Walking, Well-being

Exploring the urban landscape

I’m still having to stay close to home as I’m running errands for family members in different households who’ve caught Covid. It’s meant that I’ve had less time to get into the countryside, so I’ve had a new idea as to how I hike for the time being.

The idea is partly inspired by two influences: Alastair Humphreys, who did a hike around the circumference of the M25 in his book ‘Microadventures’; plus, it’s a revamping of the urban hikes I did during the first lockdown.

Recently, I was looking at a map of my hometown, Maidenhead, and worked out I could do circular walks of different lengths. Although these will be mainly urban hikes, it means that I can still be close to family. So far, I’ve created a two mile, four mile and six mile walk.

I did the six mile walk today. The accompanying photos are from that walk.

Spring is beginning to blossom

Then, when I got home, I decided to see how many miles the circumference of Maidenhead would be. I measured that out by using pins and string, and measured out the distance in accordance with the map scale. That totals approximately 11.5 miles. With the almost two miles it takes to get to the edge of town and back that would make a fifteen mile walk, which I’m planning to do sometime before Easter.

Pins and string – there’s the thing!

On these walks, I try to counter the noise of passing traffic and trains by deliberately seeking out the sights and sounds of nature in gardens or small stretches of woodland.

So, whilst these urban hikes won’t fully immerse me in nature, they’ve given me the creativity and stimulation to keep going in preparation for when I get back out into the countryside.

Hope you all have a great week. 😊

Adventure On Your Doorstep

Tags

Adventure, Berkshire, Blogging community, Britain, Hiking, Inspiration, local, Mental health, Nature, South East England, Walking, Well-being

Living in South East England, I don’t live close to mountains that I’ve come to crave. So, it’s important that I look elsewhere for my adventure fix. I’m lucky to live near the River Thames, and a forty minute train journey from the North Wessex Downs hill range.

But with the demands of everyday life, it sometimes difficult to find the time to go on an adventure day. During the lockdowns, though, I found myself exploring my local area more than ever before. I explored woodlands and pathways that I’d never given much thought to before.

This was all done by simply looking at a map of the outskirts of my hometown. These very local adventures proved to be a lifeline during the pandemic. I was concerned that as life got back to normal that I’d neglect these local places of interest for escapades further afield. But, exploring these areas has become so ingrained in me that I was determined not to let this new hobby go.

Just when I thought that I’d discovered all there was locally, I noticed this new area of green on my map. When I say ‘new area’ what I actually mean is I’d just overlooked it. Less than a mile and a half from my house – and more directly behind a supermarket – is a local nature reserve called Braywick Nature Reserve.

It’s been such a joy to find a new place to unwind, and it’s come with a number of other benefits. The track seems to hold up well after long bouts of rain, so it’ll make an ideal training ground in most weather to prepare for long distance hikes. Hearing the birdsong and the rushing stream is also a quick fix for the enduring sounds of nature that I experience on longer hikes. I can also see how walking here links up to other pathways, so a longer trek can be enjoyed.

So, the next time your short of time or you just fancy doing something nearby home, pull out a local map and see if there’s any new places it could take you too. As well as experiencing a great mini escape, you may find other benefits like I’ve described above.

Hope you all have a great week 😊

Hiking Book Review: ‘Tales From The Big Trails’ by Martyn Howe

Tags

Adventure, Blogging community, Book, Book Review, Hiking, Nature, non-fiction, UK, United Kingdom, Well-being

BLURB

‘I am already planning the next adventure. The wanderlust that infected me has no cure.’

It all started in Fishguard in the mid-1970s when, aged fifteen, Martyn Howe and a friend set off on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path armed with big rucksacks, borrowed boots, a Primus stove and a pint of paraffin, and a thirst for adventure. After repeating the route almost thirty years later, Martyn was inspired to walk every National Trail in England and Wales, plus the four Long-Distance Routes (now among the Great Trails) in Scotland. His 3,000-mile journey included treks along the South West Coast Path, the Pennine Way, the Cotswold Way and the West Highland Way. He finally achieved his ambition in 2016 when he arrived in Cromer in Norfolk, only to set a new goal of walking the England and Wales Coast Paths and the Scottish National Trail.

In Tales from the Big Trails, Martyn vividly describes the diverse landscapes, wildlife, culture and heritage he encounters around the British Isles, and the physical and mental health benefits he derives from walking. He also celebrates the people who enrich his travels, including fellow long-distance hikers, tourists discovering Britain’s charm, farmers working the land, and the friendly and eccentric owners of hostels, campsites and B&Bs.

And when he is asked ‘Why do you do it?’, the answer is as simple as placing one foot in front of the other: ‘It makes me happy.’

MY REVIEW

The author writes in such an engaging way about his journeys that its as if you’re walking with him at times. The descriptions of the landscapes and the interactions with the people that he meets really drew me in.

As an avid day hiker looking to become more involved with long distance/multi-day hikes, this book has given me a lot of encouragement to start planning those journeys.

I’m sure this book will be a constant companion to me on my future treks.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

MINI POST: A VERY SHORT GUIDE TO THE POWER OF POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS

Tags

anxiety, blogging, Blogging community, Coronavirus, Hope, Humanity, Inspiration, positive affirmations, Well-being

INTRODUCTION

Positive affirmations have the ability to help us think more favourably about life. They even have the power to make us think in a more reasoned way about difficult situations we find ourselves in.

There are many videos with positive affirmations on YouTube. The narrator will read a series of life affirming statements which the listener is encouraged to listen to every day. Over time, these are absorbed by the subconscious and can have a beneficial impact on our day-to-day well-being.

BENEFITS OVER TIME

The advantages of sustained practice includes a calmer mind in facing situations, being able to handle past events or concerns about the future better, developing a sense of gratitude and positively impacting on others lives.

Thoughts and emotions are inextricably linked. Being calm and peaceful has an impact on how others are to us in return. What we put out there is what we get back.

Positive affirmations won’t make the issues we face go away; they will, however, give us a toolkit to
cope with life’s challenges better.

MY GO TO YOUTUBE CHANNELS

http://www.youtube.com/user/PowerThoughtsclub
http://www.youtube.com/c/YourUniverseChannel
http://www.youtube.com/c/RisingHigherMeditation

FURTHER ADVICE

If you’re interested in doing positive affirmations, I suggest doing ten minutes a day to begin with.
It takes time for long-term changes to take effect, so sustained practice is needed.

Within a few weeks you’ll be able to quote your own feel good mantras. That’s when you know that the messages have truly sunk in to your subconscious.

I hope you enjoyed this article. It’d be great to hear any comments you have.

Peace and love, Everybody .

Poem: Find A Little Mountain Of Your Own

Tags

Adventure, blogging, Discovery-Prompts, Life, Mental health, Mountains, Photography, Poem, Poetry, Well-being

Find a little mountain of your own,

Build a sanctuary you can call home.

The sun, the rain, the wind, the snow

Will be your friends as you go.

You do this not to isolate,

But instead to contemplate –

Those quiet moments shall enliven you

So you can re-enter the world anew.

No storm nor cloud can end this time

For all elements here align

To aid you to recuperate –

For in this place is love, never hate.

Breath in the crystal clear air

As the gentle breeze ruffles your hair.

All this must feel like a dream

As you drink pure waters of the stream.

And as you descend the rocky terrain

You smile as you see the world again.

Whenever your facing problems alone

Step back and build a little mountain of your own.

About

This poem is about the importance of retreating from the world and caring for yourself once in a while or when the world gets you down. It’s important we all have a place where we can restore ourselves. I think self-care and being able to openly talk about mental health issues is so important.

Being high up on mountains or hills is where I can restore myself.

The title of the poem is adapted from a lyric by the band Idlewild.

The photos come from mountain hiking holidays I did in Scotland (2018) and Wales and Ireland (2019).

Thanks for reading this. If you have any comments, it’d be great to hear from you.

I hope you all have a good week. Stay safe and healthy 😊