Nurtured By Nature

We asked carers in our community, what keeps their spirits up and their outlooks positive. One frequent answer we received was, "making the most of nature 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 unpaid carers in our community have kept their fingers green!

1. Grow our own

Those of us lucky enough to have access to a garden got started right away. But there are still quite a few options for the rest of us.

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

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

2. Capture it

Many of us used 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 captured the wildlife and natural beauty they can saw from their window. Others discovered little pockets of green gorgeousness while exercising. Taking photos can really help focus on things we might not have seen before. It can be a reminder of something that brightened our day or something we can share with others.

3. Create our own bird feeder

Creating our own bird feeder is a great way for us to bring wildlife to our window. Birds are attracted to a good food source and so we 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 we’re fast enough.

The RSPB shared not one but three ways for people of all ages to make a bird feeder, on their website! We can use an apple or pine cone, or even up-cycle a plastic bottle to create one!

4. Take part in a Wildlife Challenge

If we are someone who wants to be even closer to nature, or to connect with it in a new, fun, interactive way, we might enjoy trying some activities as part of a Wildlife Challenge! From exploring nature to doing our part to help it, there are loads of activities to choose from.

We might choose to find the ‘Signs of Spring’ in our 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! More inspiration can be found here!

5. Check out wildlife webcams

For those of us that still cannot go outside or prefer the indoors, we 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. These videos allow us to see these animals in action from the comfort of our sofa.

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