Nurtured By Nature

This week we have been asking people how they are keeping their spirits up and their outlooks positive. One frequent answer was making the most of the daily exercise and time out of the house. Whether it was a walk to the park or time in the garden, being outside has helped make the day a little brighter. In fact, there is research which suggests that engaging with nature can make us healthier and happier!

Here are some of the ways carers are keeping their fingers green through isolation:

1. Grow your own

Those of us lucky enough to have access to a garden are getting stuck in already. But there are still quite a few options for the rest of us.

Many carers are tending to pot-plants in their home. If you'd like to get started on this, there are plenty of starter kits online, which can be ordered for delivery.

Some carers are taking the opportunity to grow herbs on their windowsill, which have the added benefit of adding to home cooking.

2. Capture it

Many of us are using technology to keep us connected to our family, friends and the outside world, so why not try using it to connect us to nature too?

Some carers are taking time to capture the wildlife and natural beauty they can see from their window. Others are discovering little pockets of green gorgeousness while exercising. Taking photos can really help focus on things you might not have seen before. It can be a reminder of something that brightened your day or something you can share with others.

Members of our Facebook group we have started to share pictures, why not add yours to the collection?

3. Create your own bird feeder

Creating your own bird feeder is a great way for you to bring wildlife to your window. Birds are attracted to a good food source and so you might find new birds stopping by and a few popping back again! You never know, you might start to recognise the regulars. These outdoor pets look after us too; they manage our insect population, pollinate our flowers and pose for the camera if you’re fast enough.

The RSPB have shared not one but THREE ways for people of all ages to make a bird feeder, on their website! You can use an apple or pine cone, or even upcycle a plastic bottle to create one!

https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-kids/games-and-activities/activities/

4. Take part in a Wildlife Challenge

If you are someone who wants to be even closer to nature, or to connect with it in a new, fun, interactive way, you might enjoy trying some activities as part of a Wildlife Challenge! From exploring nature to doing your part to help it, there are loads of activities to choose from. You might choose to find the ‘Signs of Spring’ in your garden, feed the birds, go on a bug safari or build your own hedgehog cafe! There are endless activities which are fun for people of all ages! Inspiration can be found at https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-families/family-wild-challenge/ and https://durhamwt.com/wildathome/

5. Check out wildlife webcams

For those of you that cannot go outside or prefer the indoors you can still interact with nature through Wildlife webcams and live streams. There are plenty to choose from but some suggestions include Zoo live streams (Edinburgh and Chester Zoo), and the live streams on https://explore.org/livecams and https://durhamwt.com/kittiwake-cam/. These videos allow you to see these animals in action from the comfort of your sofa.

Have you tried any of these, or do you have any other suggestions? Share them with us on the Mobilise Community Facebook Group