The natural world can be therapeutic in many ways: it helps stimulate the senses, brightens your mood and can take your mind off daily stresses and worries. Engaging in the immediate world around you, and taking in the sights, sounds and smells, not only helps you to be more present and mindful but can also help you to switch off the mental load and constant stream of thoughts.

Connecting with nature does not always mean long hikes in forests and wild landscapes, you can experience nature’s benefits from the smallest of green spaces. This could be watching insects or birds from your garden or balcony, taking in their movements and calls or just simply listening to the leaves in the wind on a park bench.

Gardening is another great way of connecting with the natural world, overtime becoming in-tune with the garden’s needs and the wildlife calling it home. Planting herbs or scented flowers can be a joy to the senses with fresh scents wafting through the garden and a tasty addition to food or drink once picked. Lavender’s scent has been linked to reduced levels of stress and is often a favourite for use in aromatherapy.

If you have access to local woodland or a nature reserve, then forest bathing can help you practice mindfulness. This Japanese tradition spawned in the 1980’s after the Japanese government found that two hours of mindful exploration in a forest could reduce blood pressure, lower levels of the stress and improve concentration and memory.

In southern England, we are incredibly lucky to have so many wonderful wild spaces to explore and enjoy locally, including nearly 50 nature reserves managed by us These are amazing places to find your own connection to nature, from watching rare and spectacular wildlife to walking along the coast and listening to waves. To find a reserve near to you, visit our list of reserves here.