How can nature benefit my mental health? 

Spending time in green space or bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit both your mental and physical wellbeing. For example, doing things like growing food or flowers, exercising outdoors or being around animals can have lots of positive effects. It can: 

• improve your mood 
• reduce feelings of stress or anger 
• help you take time out and feel more relaxed 
• improve your physical health 
• improve your confidence and self-esteem 
• help you be more active 
• help you make new connections 
• provide peer support.

What nature ideas could I try?

Bring nature inside:

• Buy flowers or potted plants for your home.
• Collect natural materials, for example leaves, flowers, feathers, tree bark or seeds – use them to decorate your living space or in art projects.
• Arrange a comfortable space to sit, for example by a window where you can look out over a view of trees or the sky.
• Grow plants or flowers on windowsills.
• Take photos of your favourite places in nature. Use them as backgrounds on a mobile phone or computer screen or print and put them up on your walls.
• Listen to natural sounds, like recordings or apps that play birdsong, ocean waves or rainfall.

These activities can be done by adults/young people or can be adapted for children.