Earth mother

When I first moved from London to Somerset, I was keen to immerse my kids in the natural world I felt we had been missing out on. One of my first outings with my three-year-old son was to a local woodland activity centre, Hidden Woods. We built dens, learned basic bushcraft skills, and toasted marshmallows over a campfire. I clearly remember all the kids crowding around the ‘mud kitchen’, where cakes and sandwiches were moulded from dirt and presented with grubby fingers and big smiles (who needs Play-doh?). My ‘toddler’ is almost as tall as me now, but we still spend a lot of time in the woods and, during lockdown, it was where we walked and talked each day.

It’s no coincidence that being among trees makes us feel better – essential oils (phytoncides) released by trees and plants have been shown in Japanese studies to reduce stress, depression and anger, as well as improving immune function. A common activity in Japan, this form of woodland aromatherapy, known as shinrin-yoku or forest bathing, is becoming increasingly popular around the world.

To really absorb the sounds, smells and sights of nature, you need to pause and switch on your senses. Next time I’m out walking the dog, I find a log in the woods, in a clearing where the sun filters through the tree canopy, and I sit a while. I spend a few minutes looking down at the forest floor and then up at the trees, touching the bark and picking some up off the ground. After a while, I hear children running towards me, gathering sticks to make dens, their hands and knees caked in dirt. I think to myself, it’s no wonder they laugh around 300 times a day compared with adults’ 15–30.

TRY THIS Find yourself a sit-spot – somewhere you can sit or lie for a while amongst the trees in a wood or park or garden, and soak up your surroundings. Observe the sights and sounds in your immediate area. Who are you sharing this space with? Focus only on what is right here, right now.