In an increasingly busy world, it's easy to forget to take time to look after our mental health. Rushing from one thing to the next, it's often difficult to live in the moment and appreciate the little things in life.
With more ways to connect with each other than ever, I still feel it was easier to arrange to meet up with friends back in the days when it involved a simple phone call. Never-ending WhatsApp groups and Facebook Messenger chats seem to be compulsory when arranging most social gatherings nowadays, and I yearn for the more straightforward days of arranging a time and place, and just being there. Not that I'd like to sacrifice the convenience of these communication tools, but I loved a week without pings or notifications recently when I went on holiday without my mobile phone.
Sky News recently reported that a staggering five million patients in England are turning to the NHS for mental health care, which sounds an awfully high number to me. The waiting lists are long, and showing no sign of falling, as mentioned in the recent Sunak v Starmer ITV debate. A claim that the numbers are going down was met with barely disguised laughter from the studio audience.
In the midst of an overstuffed NHS, some are turning to "ecotherapy" as a way of saving their lives, and one form that's grown lately in popularity is known as forest bathing. I heard a bit about this recently when I took a walk in the woods at Thorp Perrow Arboretum near Bedale in North Yorkshire, which incidentally is well worth a visit. It's the home of several prized national tree collections, birds of prey galore and a lovely tea room, and can be reached from Tameside in under two hours (admittedly, it's quite a long drive!). Faith, who works there, is passionate about the benefits of a forest 'bath' (no actual bath is involved, by the way...the word 'bath' in this context refers to immersing yourself in the trees).
Forest bathing in Japanese is known as shinrin yoku, which sounds far more exotic. It's great for both your physical and mental wellbeing, and is proven to reduce stress hormone production, improve feelings of happiness and free up creativity, as well as lowering your heart rate and blood pressure. Other benefits include a boost to your immune system and accelerating recovery from illness.
Academics at Derby University have looked at this stuff, and found that connecting to nature can be tangibly linked to happiness and mental wellbeing, as well as releasing hormones that make us feel more calm and joyful. Trials have been conducted in Japan that prove blood pressure levels in the forest environment were significantly lower compared to those in the non-forest environment.
It's World Wellbeing Week from 24th June, so now is the perfect time to get amongst the trees and have a stroll, and do some forest bathing! Wooded areas perhaps have a bad reputation from horror films, so maybe don't watch Blair Witch Project or Cabin Fever before you set off on your walk. And make sure you stick to parks, attractions, and signed public footpaths, so your forest walk doesn't end up with some sharp words from a landowner.
I did feel very 'zen' after my day spent at Thorp Perrow Arboretum, and even got to meet one of their fine collection of owls called Colin whilst I was there. The same name as my cat, but probably a bit less cuddly and not as partial to kitten snacks. If you have any great recommendations for walks in Tameside and Glossop, I could really do with getting my step count up a bit (OK, a lot), so feel free to write to me at Tameside Radio, Cavendish Mill, Bank Street entrance, Cavendish Street, Ashton-Under-Lyne, or tweet me @alexbcann. The best suggestion wins a box of cola bottle flavour Jaffa Cakes when I finally track them down in the supermarkets.
Perhaps cats have the right idea, in all honestly. I reckon if they could text back, they probably wouldn't. They are great at taking time to chill, and don't have to read social media. Garfield features an app that interprets what their miaows mean, and I really wish instead of spending cash on Chat GPT that no-one really wants, the boffins would develop this for real. I'd love to know what Colin is saying to me when he's waking me up at 4am, an hour before my alarm goes off.
