What is this you may ask?  Before you get too far into ‘wild’ imaginings, it’s simple: learn about nature, create wild spaces around you, and go and enjoy them outdoors.  Natural beauty is good for us as University of Derby researchers say in monitoring the Wildlife Trust’s 30 Days Wild challenge.  It’s the key to unlocking the benefits of wellbeing and happiness and you can engage through their App:  http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild/App.  In the UK, June is the month to “Go Wild”, we can do this too, anywhere!

Tuning in to the everyday beauty of nature increases appreciation and happiness.  National Geographic has published an article by “Nature Fix” (http://www.florencewilliams.com/the-nature-fix/), author, Florence Williams who says the closer we get to nature, the more we do our overstressed brains a favour.  Now a video is available “This is your brain on nature” (a complex therapy):  https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/thys-le-nadkarni-brain-nature-nglive.

Less disease and death is found in people who live near parks or other green space.  Researchers at the University of Glasgow discovered that those who can see trees and grass can be calmed, and sharpen their performance.  That is, they can recover faster in hospital, do better in school and display less violent behaviour.

Walking in the bush for 15 minutes can cause measurable changes in physiology.  In Finland, a dose of nature is recommended to overcome the ‘blues’.  South Koreans popularly acknowledge nature through their ancient proverb: Shin to bul ee (body and soil are one).  In a Japanese study, relaxation in pleasant surroundings with a walk in the woods gave a 16% drop in the stress hormone cortisol, a 2% drop in blood pressure, and a 4% drop in heart rate.  Natural images (e.g. a stream, sunset, wind in the grass) can also provide what US researchers have termed “attention restoration” by allowing brains to rest, wander and recover.

So, make your sanctuary around home, work and in communal spaces, and get out amongst the trees.  This is what the Japanese call shinrin yoku (forest bathing), they have even created forest therapy trails for soaking up and imbuing the sights, sounds, smells and atmosphere of the wilds.  There are health and cognition benefits by engagement of all the senses.  Stimulating the senses by walking mindfully in parks, gardening, even sailing, have been found by University of Essex researchers to have a positive effect on mood and self esteem.