If you have been following our blogs or are aware of the University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness Research Unit’s work , you will already be aware that it is the connection with Nature that benefits our wellbeing rather than the amount of time we spend. Quality time spent in ordinary, nearby Nature can offer greater benefits to us than spending longer time and not engaging our senses to everything around us.
The University of Derby’s 5 pathways to Nature Connection underpin all of our wellbeing in nature experiences which invite our guests to connect to Nature, themselves and others though exploring Senses, Emotions, Meaning ,Beauty and Compassion.
We would love to share our recent experiences of ordinary , nearby nature connections that are available to us when we choose to focus on nature and our own wellbeing.
Sometimes our day needs to include tasks that we do not look forward to and take us away from things we would rather do. A recent moment where I experienced these feelings was when my car needed to go for an MOT. I don’t like going into the City Centre at the best of times and the car service centre is on a busy, noisy industrial estate next to a dual carriageway. Like so many people I have not been driving , shopping or going out very much during the pandemic so I was dreading the whole experience.
I considered how I would spend the time whilst my car was being assessed and reflected on the choices I have made in the past . I have previously used a courtesy car or a taxi to go home. There were two choices of “retail therapy” to my left and to my right along busy roads . To the left , I could walk into the City Centre and to my right to the retail area of the industrial estate. I did not need any food shopping and have committed to avoid buying any new “things” unless I absolutely need something.
I dropped off my car with ease and excellent service at 8.20 am and headed towards Chester Green where I followed smaller roads towards the River Derwent. The traffic noise and pollution reduced within minutes as I walked along quiet Victorian streets where mature trees housed many birds who were singing sweetly. I felt instantly more relaxed and back in my comfort zone.
A path by the community centre took me into parkland and delighted my eyes with an avenue of beautiful trees. As I followed the river path toward the footbridge my pace slowed , taking frequent stop moments to smell the carpets of wild garlic and gaze in awe at the delicate bluebells that nestled under the trees. I was less than ten minutes gentle walk away from the bustle and noise of the busy industrial estate and was able to spend the next hour and a half immersed in the sensory delights of Nature on a cool morning where rain had fallen overnight.
The smells of the damp , morning woodland spaces by the river were intoxicating. This rich , sensory experience after rainfall is called petrichor .The moist, cool air lifted the scent of wild garlic to my nose and invited me to look closer at the broad ,green leaves of the plants with their pure white flowers. Raindrops had settled in glistening droplets on the leaves and on other leaves on the woodland floor. Even in these tiny glades on the edge of the City , I was able to lose myself in the moment as though I was in a deep , ancient forest.
I could hear birds singing close to me and further away , occasionally this was punctuated by sudden rustling sounds as squirrels scurried playfully in and around the trees.
Without even trying there were countless opportunities to find meaning in these moments as Nature was in control of my experiences. I reflected on the opportunities this time was offering to me when I had dreaded the morning for several days. Themes of pathways and choices were strongly entering my thoughts so I let these thought just “be” without trying to make sense or make any judgements about them. I felt free to follow paths and explore new places in anticipation of the surprises Nature would have for me. Walking on the footbridge over the river felt very powerful and again offered meaning opportunities. I was crossing into new experiences, new ways of seeing, feeling, hearing and experiencing and allowing Nature to guide me.
It would have been difficult not to find beauty in Nature as the sun started to peep around clouds and shine sparking light on a meadow full of buttercups . Each little flower cup held drops of glistening rain water that caught the light . I had to sit down on the damp grass to get closer to the flowers and see each tiny structure in more detail. The ground pulled me down gently and supported me to rest for a while in the gentle warmth of the morning sun. The park was becoming busier and the music of voices , dog barks and bicycle sounds were comforting as they reminded me that I was part of a community who were also enjoying these moments of connection to Nature .
In these quiet moments I became aware of experiencing messy surges of emotion. These varied from joy and delight at seeing flowers and smelling scents such as damp rotting tree stumps . Each moment brough forward hints and links to past emotions in similar situations enjoyed with family and friend who are no longer hear. The sweet sensory experiences gently softened my raw feelings allowing me to welcome all emotions and the thoughts that came with them. In this mindful space I was able to resist putting values on these feelings but sometimes this was more difficult. A particularly difficult thought to accept and welcome happened when I entered a larger area of woodland canopy . The space felt deeper and wild garlic covered the damp ground. I was taken back to a memory of enjoying wild garlic as part of a memorable meal with people I love. The pain of separation from loved ones during the pandemic hit me from nowhere and was almost too painful to bear. I just decided to sit , close my eyes and allow my thoughts to be. It was really difficult to trust myself to relax and stay with the thoughts but I knew that my feelings were not able to hurt me. I found myself actually going deeper into my memory of the meal and actually tasting the food. The memories passed quite quickly and left me experiencing a sense of peace and gratitude for the happy times ad the memories that I can keep with me.
I reflected on my spontaneous forest bathing walk with compassion for myself ,thankful for the calm, peace and space that Nature had offered to me to find acceptance and learning in these valuable moments. My compassion for Nature was increased further in gratitude for opportunities to go deeper in my relationship with the natural World. I walked back to my car with a renewed sense of commitment to Nature and a refreshed sense of purpose. I had not been aware of how much the isolation and changes effected by lockdowns had changed my perspectives and I had become fearful of many everyday things. I am aware that I need to go gently forward and continue to have compassion for myself , for others and for nature as we head towards the life ahead of us.
I am trying to let go of how life used to be before the pandemic and intend to focus on how life could be and I would like it to be . I am making a commitment to live more intentionally , simply and to put nature at the heart of my decisions. Choosing to focus on nature as I waited for my car to be assessed provided valuable moments for my wellbeing, to learn from and for healing in these unusual times.
I invite to seek moments in nature when you need to “waste some time” and see what can happen for you .
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