Last weekend my husband and I went to our local Wetland Centre for the afternoon. We enjoyed a picnic in the sunshine, lots of bird spotting and a good, long walk. I also took my DSLR camera and got some nice shots of more common species and non-native varieties of bird, plus a few of the cute little family of Asian short-clawed otters . Although there were quite a few groups of visitors due to it being the weekend, the reserve includes 103 acres of open spaces and wetlands so we were able to find peace and quiet to enjoy our surroundings and explore. We had an amazing time and left the place feeling super calm and relaxed.
This week is World Wellbeing Week and it serves as a reminder of the importance of taking time to look after our physical and mental health. Connecting with the natural world, especially in spaces where there is water, is a key way of doing this, and although you may not have a Wetland Centre on your doorstep, we’re all able find ways to appreciate the outdoors.
A quick reminder of the key benefits of getting out in nature
- Walking is a great form of exercise and reduces risk of obesity
- Better energy levels
- The chance to disconnect and slow down
- Improved creativity due to lower stress and anxiety levels
- Better air quality – less pollution
- Reduces anxiety
- A calm space where there are less triggers which may cause low mood or upset
- Lowers blood pressure and makes us less tense
- If the Sun is out, we can soak up vitamin D which is important for our general health
- Lowers depression – boosts serotonin levels and promotes feeling of wellbeing
- Increases our ability to heal
- Helps with cognitive functioning – memory, processing, recall etc.
- Being outside is great fun!
Photos
As I said, I took lots of photos with my DSLR camera on our way around the extensive grounds, Some turned out better than others, especially as a few of the birds observed from the hides were quite far away. I also tried to take some shots of the meadows but unfortunately it was a little too breezy. I’ve since printed a collection of them ready to do some journalling of our day but I thought I’d share a few of my favourites on here. I’ll let the images speak for themselves but will pop the species names underneath as a caption.
Final words
I hope my post has been a good reminder of the benefits of time spent in nature and that it’s prompted you to explore places and spaces that are available in your local area. You can either choose to mindfully soak up the atmosphere or create a photographic account of your time, or, as I did, combine the two. Let me know what your favourite nature space is where you live and what you particularly love about it.
Keeping it creative 
Great photos!
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