If you go down to the woods today...
Forest Enterprise Scotland is encouraging local people to get down to Boden Boo or the Bluebell Woods and give their health a kick-start this spring.
There are many health benefits to spending time outdoors and, as the mornings get lighter and the nights get longer, there’s no excuse not to get out and enjoy the fresh Scottish air.
It can be easier than you think to get active and lead a healthier lifestyle just by using your local woodland.
Boden Boo in Erskine and Johnstone’s Bluebell Woods offer a great green space to take a long solo walk, train for the next marathon or assault course, enjoy a cycle with the family or start a running club with friends.
The benefits of getting regular exercise are well known, but using your local woodland as a replacement to the gym could have more benefits than you think.
Forest Enterprise Scotland has pulled together five reasons why you should be heading outdoors this spring.
These are: ● It’s good for your mind and your body. Being in woodlands and forests offer great therapeutic benefits for all ages and can benefit our mental, emotional, social and physical health ● It makes you feel better about yourself. Exercise is good for your confidence ● It might be easier to stick with than a gym ● You can soak up the fresh air and sunshine – which are good for bone health and metabolic function ● Woodlands offer varied workouts, thanks to the different terrains, which can help shape your walk, run or workout.
Julie McAlpine, from Forest Enterprise Scotland, said:“This is one of the best times of year to get outdoors and explore what Scotland’s green spaces have to offer.
“It’s a changing season when things are starting to grow, new life is all around and the light mornings make it a wondrous time to explore nature at its best.
“We all start to feel a bit brighter when the days get longer and what better way to enjoy them than by being outdoors in Scotland’s woodlands? Our natural green spaces and forests are accessible and can be used for a number of social activities or to help with your fitness goals.”