Connecting to nature

I love the walk to drop off my son at nursery in the morning – the movement and fresh air sets me up for a day of work. It rained overnight, so the air is damp but fresher than it’s been. As we set off, he notices a blackbird hopping on the grass outside our house, probing for earthworms with his brilliant orange bill. “Blackbird,” I say, and he repeats it in his toddler gargle. We walk along the pavement, him perched on my shoulders, and hear a song thrush whistling loudly from the top of a tall tree – a repetition of two or three phrases, sung with all his might. We’ll probably hear him again on the way home. The verges are carpeted with cuckoo flowers, bluebells and bright yellow dandelions – a welcome flash of colour after a long, wet winter. We pass a cherry blossom and hear the hum of a hundred bees feeding on its flowers. The leaves seem to have suddenly unfurled, bringing a vibrant, bright canopy of green that we walk beneath. We pass a few puddles, and he jumps right in!

Cuckoo flowers and dandelions in spring Louise Emslie

For me, nature connection is all about slowing down and noticing the world around me. As much as I love the mountains and wild places of the Highlands, I’ve learnt in recent years, that you don’t need to go far to experience and feel the benefits of nature. Listening to birds and learning their songs, noticing wildflowers appear through the season, or simply enjoying the beauty of dappled sunlight through the trees – this is what connecting to nature means to me now. As a busy, working Mum, it’s not always easy to find this time, but making a conscious effort to take notice on our walks or when out and about, feels important to me now. Walking, or simply pausing for five minutes, brings me a sense of calm, and renewed energy and allows me to forget about the to-do list of life. I had to teach myself to slow down and take notice, but having done that, I now know I can find awe and wonder in the “everyday” nature around me, and feel its benefits, quite literally, from the doorstep.

Nature connection means different things to different people. For some, it’s being physically active in nature, for others, it’s learning or volunteering and for many, it’s simply breathing fresh air and feeling the sun on your face.

The Cairngorms 2030 programme is made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund