Change in attitude towards taboo subject
SPENDING time in nature is a great way to deal with many poor mental health triggers, such as stress, anxiety and depression. Connecting to our surroundings consciously, be that through a walk in the park, a stroll over the fields, going for a run, participating in a spot of gardening or just sitting to listen to the birds, can help de-stress us and be effective in protecting our mental health.
The FUW is a long-standing supporter of good mental health in our rural and farming communities and, putting our money where our mouth is, we have made sure that our staff have undergone mental health first aid training with the DPJ Foundation, giving us the tools to help those in need of support.
Over the years we’ve noticed a positive change in attitudes towards what was once a completely taboo subject. The stiff upper lip is gradually fading away, with many in rural and farming circles being increasingly honest with themselves and their families and friends about the state of their own mental health.
There is now also much more support available through charities like the DPJ Foundation, FCN, Tir Dewi, RABI and other like-minded organisations. However, there are still issues that need addressing, and talking about our mental health and identifying what triggers poor mental health must remain in the spotlight. The problem is far from fixed.
With this in mind, advocating greater access to the countryside and spending time outdoors seems like an excellent way to address a disconnect to nature in urban areas, but if not done carefully such proposals could have serious negative impacts on our rural and farming communities and their mental health. We support the responsible use and access of Wales’ countryside and understand the important role that access to outdoor spaces can play in maintaining good health and wellbeing as well as its contribution to the rural economy. However, the sharp increase in visitor numbers to the countryside and those using public rights of way during the Covid-19 pandemic has raised major concern across the rural and farming communities. While Welsh Government restrictions on travelling to beauty hotspots helped to reduce such concerns in particular locations, many public footpaths running through farm holdings and near urban areas continued to see far greater use by members of the public, potentially increasing the spread of the disease by touching stiles and gates, many of which were and are used by farmers to go about their daily business. This became a particular worry for those farming families who had a shielding member within their household.
Reports of visitors trespassing by wandering off recognised footpaths, livestock worrying, unclosed gates leading to animals escaping, littering and abusive antisocial behaviour have been more common than ever during the pandemic, while the Wildlife in Lockdown study found that wildlife flourished during the lockdown in areas where public access was restricted during the pandemic.
The previous Welsh Government aggressively pursued an agenda aimed at increasing access rights for visitors to Wales wishing to pursue activities such as horse riding, canoeing and paragliding, while ignoring the need to increase responsible use of existing access by Welsh people most at risk of physical and mental health problems.
With visitor numbers expected to reach record levels in Wales this summer, let us hope that the evidence of the last 12 months makes the Welsh Government realise that we must not compromise our landscape, our wildlife nor the mental health of those who live and work in the countryside in order to cater for certain sections of society.