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Nature on prescription
20/01/2025
As a nature lover, I like to be outdoors and enjoy observing all the biodiversity. Walking becomes a trail for the senses, so to speak. Being in nature just feels good, although until recently I couldn't quite explain why. Numerous scientific studies give more insight into how a patch of green can be a boost to the mind, and even has a positive impact on your health.
Studies show that spending time in nature reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, slows heart rate, reduces anxiety, improves the immune system and enhances well-being. Several scientists even claim that a high diversity of wild plants in the garden leads to a more diverse and healthier gut flora, more variation in bacterial species on the skin, fewer allergies and less asthma. Positive effects can already be obtained with 15 minutes a day spent in green areas, be that in your garden, the park, a green playground, a forest or even an avenue of trees.
A combination of sunlight, good air quality, humidity, being in motion and just taking a break away from the hustle and bustle help create 'serotonin', also known as the happiness hormone. In Japan, people speak of taking a forest bath. It is like a nature therapy of immersing yourself in nature. The emphasis is on consciously experiencing the surrounding environment with your senses, smell, sound and sight. For example, many people love the earthy smell of the forest after a rainstorm. This smell comes from the volatile substance 'geosmin', produced by fungi and bacteria in the soil. Trees in turn produce 'phytoncides' to protect themselves from fungi and insects, and also to communicate with each other. Inhaling these results in a higher white blood cell count, which reduces inflammation, lowers stress hormone levels and even ensures better sleep. So we can assume that an overdose of nature does not pose any risks, quite the contrary. And this is all for free.
Not only does spending time in nature help, but gardening is also healing. Audrey Hepburn put it beautifully: 'to plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow'. Every spring is a new beginning of all life germinating. At the same time, gardening can also be a true boot camp in patience of falling down, getting up and carrying on again. By no means everything works out and nature does its thing in the meantime. But there are many of us who experience pleasure from gardening year after year and planning new garden projects to colour our own green oasis a little more beautiful.
I discovered a new hobby myself, renovating old cast-iron garden benches. I am now on my 6th piece. It is mainly the new seating areas that give rise to even more zen and enjoyment. Another fun project was the installation of an aromatic spiral and a mound bed that Frank and I harvested goodies throughout the seasons. This spring, I would like to try out a little dry stone wall as a place for insects and reptiles but also for unique rock plants. In time, I would also like to create an area for sand bees. As you can tell, we keep busy with our hands in the earth.
The nice book 'Groen Geluk' by Eline van Lancker was an inspiration for this blog. She also introduced me to tree.fm, an online site with forest sounds from around the world. Ideal from your computer, if you don't have time to go into nature for a while, but still want to experience them. Just enjoy our beautiful nature and with all the more biodiversity in your own backyard, you don't have to go far. That seems like a great resolution for 2025!
Comments
- zeer informatieve blog (Johan C)
- Prachtig wat jullie allemaal doen in jullie groene omgeving. Voor ons zeker een inspiratie om daar hier en daar een graantje van mee te pikken. Doe zo verder we smullen ervan en zal ook eens nagaan of het 'groene geluk' ook voor leken of eerder voor semi profis is. Groetjes (Johan en Erika)
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