Doorstep nature at home

There are plenty of ways you can enjoy nature from home. Experience the benefits of nature for your wellbeing through the window or in your local urban park. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Get involved in the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch. What can you see from your window? Hang a bird feeder nearby so you can watch the activity. There is also a Big Butterfly Count or try a 10-minute pollinator count with the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (PoMS).

Nurture a houseplant, window box or planter to appreciate nature’s beauty and find joy in watching it grow. Learn about the benefits of gardening for mental health. You can give plant babies to friends as green gifts.

Have a go at growing some herbs for the kitchen. Enjoy them in cooking or a cup of homegrown fresh herbal tea.

Keeping a nature journal is a good way to notice seasonal changes and connect with the small joys you see.

There are plenty of books that share the benefits of nature for wellbeing. Find something that interests you and borrow from Hampshire Libraries. You could even have a go at nature writing to express your creativity and emotions and use your senses to connect with nature.

Listen to Hampshire Countryside Service’s Looking After Nature podcast to learn more about wildlife and nature in our area, or their Looking After You mindfulness podcast. You can also bring the sounds of the outside in to your home with audio like this 25-minute ASMR dawn chorus video recorded at River Hamble Country Park.

Take a free online course about nature, environment or conservation such as the Natural History Museum’s Introduction to Urban Ecology course or the University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness: For a New Relationship with Nature course.

Check out what’s happening on the Wildlife Trust webcams – look out for dolphins, puffins, owls, bats and more! Or listen to their Wild About Wellbeing podcast which discusses all things to do with nature and health.

Give cloud watching a go from a window, balcony, doorstep or garden – look up and notice the shapes, colours and textures. You could keep a record of what you see, describing their movement across the sky. Watching the clouds allows you to pay attention to the present moment without judgment. When you focus on the clouds you become more aware of your surroundings. This increased mindfulness can lead to greater feelings of calm and can inspire creativity. This can help you cope with feelings of stress, boredom, or negative emotions by providing a positive outlet for your expression.