The pandemic has certainly changed the world and we've all had to make adjustments.
However, we can all take to heart that as so many of us hunker down at home, nature has had time to heal!
The unexpected consequence of the COVID-19 crisis is that we now have cleaner air (the peaks of the Himalayan Mountains can be seen in India again); cleaner water (you can see the bottom of the canals in Venice for the first time in a long while); and animals are visiting our habitats (mountain goats are exploring the streets of Wales). Nature is regenerative and it is always seeking to achieve a balance.
This Pandemic, as terrible as it is, does give us the unique opportunity to rethink our relationship with the natural world.
So many of us ‘just want to get out of the house!’ We take walks around our neighbourhood revelling in the fresh air. A good dose of Vitamin N (Nature), applied regularly, not only has physical benefits, but has been shown to boost mental health, raising our serotonin levels (a feel-good chemical in the brain), and reducing cortisol (a stress hormone). Nature can be a soothing balm.
When you are out and about take note of nature’s activities.
You may not see goats wandering down your street, but what else can you see?
Tell us what you have observed and how has nature responded in your neighbourhood – are there more birds; are you seeing animals you don’t normally see? And tell us how your neighbours (your human neighbours that is) are responding – are you and your neighbours appreciating walking in nature more; does that walk lift your mood?
Send us your photos and observations or tag us on social media.
We'd love to see them and share them with the greater CK Community.
