Gardening is the healthiest of all recreations, as it calls into healthy activity every faculty of body and mind, and is therefore of especial importance to artisans, persons employed in sedentary occupations, and those who live in thickly populated districts, and their families. You would be forgiven if you believed that this statement was made…
November brings a change in seasons, a further turning of the Earth’s axis. From blue skies to golden sunlight and stretched shadows. From lush foliage to berry studded hedgerows and forest fungi. As the nights draw in and the air is crisp, it can feel comforting to curl up at home. But November, and Winter,…
Have you ever stopped to admire the beauty of a delicate spiderweb lined with dew? Or the bright yellow of the first daffodil of the year? What about stopping to listen to the silvery song of a robin on your way home? Scientists are increasingly studying the beneficial effects that nature can have on us,…
Some years ago, when visiting family in Australia, my grandson bought me a plaque to hang on the door of my shed. It says, “GRANDAD’S SHED – BIKES, TOYS AND TREASURES MENDED WHILE YOU WAIT – PAYMENT IN CUDDLES AND SMILES”. The pleasure that gives me is comparable with the pleasure that I get from…
Dear reader, Next week is Children’s Mental Health Week, and we thought we’d celebrate all of our upcoming events for children and families. Research shows that children gain educational, personal and social benefits from connecting with nature. Rachel from the Orchard was recently interviewed for Notts TV about the benefits of our weekly toddler sessions, New Shoots.…
There’s nothing quite like being outdoors, even in the coldest winter days, and perhaps being outside is something that benefits us even more in the shorter months. Tons of research backs this up, which is why the Greenspace project in Nottingham is such a welcome development. Greenspace is all about improving people’s mental health through nature-based activities, and…