With the climate as it is now, it is easy to become overwhelmed. The worrying statistics and the weather being so unpredictable can be stressful. It is easy to get bogged down in what is going on everywhere in the world and feel like that, as one person, what difference can you make? You are not alone in this feeling, and eco-anxiety is becoming a common side effect of modern climate change. There are a lot of aspects within our current landscape that we do not have the power to change, but there are ways that can help us cope, create hope for the future, and even start to thrive.
There is something about sitting in nature. It allows you to stop your busy mind and just appreciate what is around you and how wonderful nature can be. Listening to the birds as they talk to each other in the trees, listening to a running river or the wind blowing through the trees, wondering how it’s going to change with the seasons and appreciating the adaptations that nature goes through.
I have always loved when the seasons start to change. As the leaves turn from green to all the shades of orange, brown, and red, it creates such interest for the eyes. It makes the world so dynamic and interesting. All the different fungi appear in all their incredible shapes and colours. The winter migrating birds start to appear and eat every berry off the rowan trees. The salmon make their way up the rivers and spawn. I think it just might be my favourite time of the year.
Though the evenings are drawing in, I always find it invaluable to take the time to go outside and spend time in nature. The relaxation I feel can be instantaneous, and I find that the worries of the day are able to float away on the wind. Getting in touch with nature can come in many forms. I often find that a slow walk through the woods or reading a book by the river does wonders. Gardening can be a wonderful way to get hands-on with nature; getting soil on your hands and allowing for a creative outlet in what you grow. I have had my first attempt at a vegetable patch this year. It was not the most successful, but I did grow some broad beans, and they were delicious. You can also take picture of a species and record it on iRecord or your local LERC. These apps are great tools, as they can assist you in increasing your identification knowledge and contribute to the wider database in the UK. Leaving foliage and branches in a pile to allow for hibernation homes for hedgehogs and other small mammals is also a great way to support wildlife in your garden.
