Weekly Winter Wonder

As I write this there's just one month until the Winter Solstice and just over a week until the First Sunday in Advent which really begins the countdown to Christmas Day. Winter has finally hit us here this week with sub zero temperatures. It came as a bit of a surprise to me that if we wanted to run another wintery adventure then we needed to get a move on! There's no full blown advent calendar this year instead we're going to bring you weekly winter wonder to encourage you to connect with nature both indoors and out, this season.

Bathe in Nature

This doesn't mean wild swimming, instead each week we're going to bring you a suggestion of a different forest bathing prompt to activate your senses as you are out in nature - or as you are watching it from your window. Forest bathing, or Shinrin-Yoku as it's known in Japan where it was invented is a therapeutic activity which aids with relaxation and helps build nature connection - something that can be harder to achieve in Winter.

Create in Nature

Taking part in creative activity does wonders for your mental health and wellbeing. Creativity can increase positive emotions, lessen depressive symptoms, reduce stress, and decrease anxiety - imagine the benefits when you introduce some nature into the mix! Each week we'll make a suggestion for some nature based creativity that can boost your connection to nature! At this time of year a bonus is that you can turn your creations into festive decorations.

Walk in Nature

You didn't think you were going to get away without a suggestion to get outside and go for a walk?! Sometimes the outdoors is not as tempting as it is at other times of the year. Even when the skies are blue it can be slippery underfoot, but with the right clothing and an eye on the weather forecast it can be really beneficial to get outside. Mornings are particularly good when the light is at its brightest, to keep your circadian rhythms on track and get some vital Vitamin D. Each week we'll offer a winter walking suggestion!

Bringing Nature Indoors

Let's keep things realistic here! Sometimes all you want to do in Winter is stay under the blanket on the sofa, but that doesn't mean you have to lose out on nature connection. You'll have already used your creativity to bring some nature indoors perhaps, but now you can activate that blanket and each week we'll offer a suggestion of something to watch or listen to that will bring nature to you. Nature TV shows can soothe your soul and help you relax - research proves it!

Festive Foliage

The holly and the ivy, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, mistletoe and wine - why do we hear so much about random plants at this time of year? Each week we'll bring you some festive folklore about a plant that only ever seems to get a bit of an outing at Christmas! We know that not everyone celebrates Christmas, but this is the holiday season, one way or another for almost everyone, and it is DEFINITELY deepest winter for us all (in the Northern Hemisphere!). Let's keep our spirits and our nature connection alive this Winter!

Towards the end of next week (around the 28th November) we'll be updating our website with our Weekly Winter Wonder graphic and prompts and sending a wee reminder to our newsletter subscribers that the 2025 Nature Adventure is active! Then from Monday 8th December there will be weekly posts with your wonder challenges for the week ahead.