Fox, Danny Green - 2020 Vision
Nature is Good For You!
Whatever your age, whoever you are and wherever you are nature is good for you. Here at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, we have wellbeing high on our agenda. Research has proven that spending time outdoors in nature is great for our physical and mental health. We also know that connecting with nature can improve our wellbeing. Just like having the right vitamins we believe that a daily dose of Vitamin ‘N’ for Nature (Richard Louve 2016) is beneficial to us all.
We would like to help and encourage everyone in Derbyshire to access wildlife-rich places as part of their everyday lives, or as often as possible. People who connect with nature every day are more active and mentally resilient, experience reduced social isolation and loneliness and have better all-round health.
Here is Dr Amir Khan who explains more about the natural ways to wellbeing:
We know that accessing nature and going outdoors is not easy for everyone and we are exploring ways in which we can support you and bring nature to you. We have a new way to explore some of our reserves virtually.
Take a look at our Wildscapes for Wellbeing
A recent report by The Wildlife Trust has shown that Nature-based health and wellbeing programmes could save hundreds of millions of pounds each year and reduce society’s reliance on the NHS.
To ensure that everyone has access to nature we would like to gift this beautiful picture to you. Why not download it as a screen saver for your phone or laptop, to bring nature into your home why not get the picture printed and hang it in your home so you can see nature every day?
Kayleigh Wright
Want to know more?
If you’d like to dig deeper into the research and see how Wildlife Trust activities help to support wellbeing download The Wildlife Trust’s A Natural Health Service report.
Nature Activities
Click the links below to view and download our nature activity cards and discover more ways to connect with nature.
5 Ways to Wild Wellbeing
We use the New Economic Foundation's 5 ways to wellbeing alongside the 5 pathways to nature connection in the design of our wellbeing programmes and activities.
We believe that finding easy everyday ways to connect with nature and bring nature into our everyday lives really does help us to feel good and boost our wellbeing. Please get in touch if you’d like copies of the Wild Wellbeing Journal or for a bespoke wellbeing session.
Be Active
Go outside for a walk or explore your nearest nature reserve
Connect
With the people around you, share your wildlife experiences
Give
Take care of nature however you can.
Take Notice
Of the everyday wildness on your doorstep
Learn
Try something new outside and let nature be your teacher
Start connecting with nature and taking time for your own wellbeing at home.
Try out some of the 5 ways to wellbeing ideas
Download: Adventure within! A journal Exploring The Five Ways To Wild Wellbeing
Wild Wellbeing in action
Our Wild Wellbeing Derby project took place from January 2021 to March 2022. This project aimed to get people out in to the local greenspaces within the city and show how nature can be found anywhere! The groups spent time searching for natural treasures, taking part in calming mindfulness exercises, helping to improve local spaces for wildlife and getting to know the nature on their doorstep.
Read the full report here:
Wildscapes for Wellbeing
If you can't get out to our reserves let us bring them to you!
These relaxing videos let you escape into the beautiful surroundings of our reserves:
5 Pathways to Nature Connection
The 5 pathways to nature connection were developed at the University of Derby and led by Prof. Miles Richardson. It's not always the amount of time that we spend in nature but more the moments spent connecting with nature that can have an effect on our mental health and improve our wellbeing.
Senses
Exploring and experiencing nature using all your senses.
Beauty
Looking for and appreciating beauty in nature and wildlife.
Emotion
Noticing and welcoming the feelings that the natural world inspires in you.
Meaning
What does nature mean to you, finding your own personal meaning in nature
Compassion
Celebrating and sharing natures events and stories.
Challenge
Try noticing 3 good things in nature every day.
It could be seasonal changes, plants or flowers, the view, or wildlife that you see. You could photograph or journal this, so you have a log to look back at over the year.
Red-tailed bumblebee ©Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography
Wild Wellbeing at Home
Keep in touch with nature
(C) Vicky Nall
Visit Our Reserves
Plan a trip
(C) Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography