Living Nature Wellness

27/08/2025

📵 We’re taking a little digital breather… back in mid-September! 🌿

As much as we love this space — the connections, the conversations, the community — we’re pressing pause on social media for two weeks.

Let’s be honest: ever go to post something quickly, and next thing you know you’re deep-diving into the life cycle of a sea slug or someone’s gran’s sourdough recipe? 👀🐌🍞 No? Just us?

Social media is designed to keep you scrolling. Literally. Studies show the infinite scroll feature — that thing that just never ends — was modelled on slot machines. It bypasses your brain’s “I’m done now” signal. Remember the “Load More” button? That brief moment of reflection? Gone. So are our boundaries, sometimes.

🧠 The average person now spends over 2 hours a day on social media — more than 5 years over a lifetime! And yet, how often do we pause to ask: Is this how I want to spend my time? Is this how I want to feel?

So, we’re stepping away. Not forever — just long enough to reattune to our own rhythms, look at more trees than screens, and rediscover the joys of being offline 🌳☀️✨

📅 We’ll be back mid-September, with lots of goodness to share for autumn: events, reflections, new projects, and some forest-fuelled ideas brewing.

Until then…
🌿 Go outside
📚 Read a book
👣 Walk barefoot
🙃 Or just stare at a wall for a bit — no algorithm’s watching you there.

⸻

💬 Do you ever take social media breaks? Or have you tried setting your own rules for online time? Share your tips below — we’d love to hear how others are navigating this wild digital world!

25/08/2025

Did you know there’s a photo competition running right now at Werneth Low Country Park — and they’re looking for entries that go beyond the usual sunsets and cenotaphs?

This is such a lovely invitation to pause, notice, and connect with nature in a new way. Whether you’re an adult seeking stillness, or a family looking for a mindful activity with the kids, taking photos outdoors can be a powerful way to slow down and really see the land.

🌾 Try this:
– Go on a “mindful photo walk” with your little ones.
– Choose a theme: texture, colour, light, shadows, movement, stillness.
– Notice the way the sun hits the dry stone wall, or the tiny insects moving through a hedge.
– Let your child take the lead – they’ll spot things you might miss 🐛
– Talk about what they see, feel, and hear in that moment.

The result? Time spent in nature, engaged, calm, creative — and you might even end up in the 2026 Werneth Low calendar!

🕊️ Photos must be:
– Landscape format
– Taken at Werneth Low
– No people or pets
– Sent in by 31st August to: hydewmt@gmail.com

More info in the post 📩

🧠 Why try mindful photography?
Studies show that combining nature time with creativity improves emotional regulation, builds attention and focus, and helps reduce stress — for both children and adults. It’s not about getting the perfect shot… it’s about being present enough to notice one.

Who’s joining us on a nature photo mission this week? 🌳📷
Tag us if you go!

Still a few days to go before the deadline to enter your photos for the calendar.
We get lots of entries of sunsets and cenotaph - we've had some fabulous ones this year.

We are now particularly looking for photos of other features of the Park such as:

Gates and stiles.
Dry stone walls.
Way markers.
The Visitor Centre
Orchard.
The new Rowan Tree
Sheep folds.
Cow stalls
Cows in the meadow
Wildlife / birdlife
Entrances to the Park
Sport/golf
Woodland.

Remember, your photos must be landscape or they can't be judged for the calendar. Good Luck!

Here's a reminder of the details:

We are looking for photographs that capture the beauty of Werneth Low Country Park throughout the seasons. Perhaps you have that wonderful photo saved from last winter, or autumn? Or the first signs of spring as the park comes to life. The competition is free to enter and is open to all ages.

Calendars will be available for sale at the Visitor Centre later this year and proceeds will be used for wildlife habitat improvement in the Country Park.

Rules and conditions of entry
1. The closing date is 11.59pm on 31st August 2025.
2. Entries must be emailed to hydewmt@gmail.com and please label ‘photography competition’ in the subject of the email.
3. Photos must be good quality digital images and landscape in orientation.
4. Photos entered must be taken within the boundary of Werneth Low Country Park
5. We are unable to provide telephone or email confirmation for receipt of entries.
6. Each person can submit up to three photographs.
7. The judges’ decision is final.
8. Entry to the competition is deemed to be permission to use your photo(s) in perpetuity. Hyde War Memorial Trust may use images for other materials (for example on social media and website, or to produce note cards etc) If we use your image, the photographer will always be credited.
9. Winners will be notified by 30th September 2025.
10. Photographs can be of landscape, wildlife, flower, fauna, points of interest or habitat – please no people or pets in the image.
11. Entrants must not be professional photographers.
12. Trustees and advisors of Hyde War Memorial Trust are not permitted to enter.
13. Entries must include the photographer’s name, age if under 18 and a small piece of information about the photo: where/what.
14. Each of the 12 winning entries will be featured in our 2026 calendar and winners will receive a free copy of the calendar.

25/08/2025

Feeling frazzled? Try forest bathing (no towel required 🌳🛁)

The Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku (literally “forest bath”) was developed in the 1980s as a response to Karōshi — a rise in tech-driven burnout and even death from overwork. Scientists and doctors were noticing what many of us now feel: we were becoming more connected to machines than to ourselves.

So they did something wild… they prescribed time in nature.

Not hiking. Not exercise. Just being. Slow, sensory, mindful. Breathing in the forest air (which, by the way, is full of natural compounds called phytoncides that reduce cortisol levels and boost immune cells – yes, trees are actual healers 🍃).

Turns out, Shinrin-Yoku isn’t just poetic — it’s practical. It helps regulate the nervous system, reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and restore a sense of calm. Nature gets us.

Swipe through this article for five places to try forest bathing for yourself — or maybe start with your nearest patch of woodland and leave your phone at the gate 🐾

Who’s tried it? Who needs to?

Ever wondered why spending time in nature feels so good? The Japanese practice of forest bathing, born in the 1980s as an antidote to tech-boom burnout, has been scientifically proven to enhance our well-being in remarkable ways. 🏞️

Here are five places that maximize the health benefits of the art of forest bathing: https://on.natgeo.com/41RmusH

24/08/2025

We loved this post — it taps into something so many of us are feeling.

Why is it getting harder to feel connected to the natural world? Why do some people seem almost afraid of nature — of mud, mess, bugs, and silence?

There’s actually a word for that fear: biophobia — an aversion to natural elements, wild places, or living things. It’s the opposite of biophilia, which is the inborn human love of nature. And the truth is, children start with biophilia. Watch a child splash in puddles or make a potion with leaves — they instinctively connect. So when do we lose it?

Could it be the pace of modern life, screens always in hand, or the way wild spaces have been replaced by buildings, roads, and routine? The World Health Organisation has warned of an epidemic of inactivity and nature-deficit disorder in young people. And yet, just 20 minutes in nature has been shown to lower cortisol (stress) levels significantly.

We forget that we are nature. Not separate from it. Not above it. Just another part of this beautiful, interconnected web.

So here’s a little invitation. This weekend, pause. Feel the earth under your feet. Breathe in the air of a woodland. Let your child lead you into wild play. Sit quietly under a tree and just be. These aren’t small acts — they are moments of reconnection. And they matter.

🌱

24/08/2025

Feel like everything’s a bit much right now?
This is your invitation to step away from the noise, slow down, and come back to yourself.

We’re gathering this Monday evening (25th August) for a New Moon Wellness Circle at Werneth Low.
Breathwork, gentle movement, forest bathing, quiet reflection, and a sound bath under the trees.
Nothing fancy. No pressure. Just space to breathe and feel held.

Open to anyone who needs a reset — whether you’ve never done anything like this before or you come every month. You’re welcome.

6.30–8.00pm | Pay what you can (£6–£15)
Book via www.livingnatureuk.org/booking or message me if you’re curious but unsure.

Let’s take a breath. Together.

22/08/2025

Scroll to see what these tiny hands and wild herbs turned into 🌿

At Living Nature, we believe children don’t need fixing — they need space.
Even on days when big energy has us chasing through the fields, the moment we enter the woods or pick up something creative, the calm arrives.
It’s like the forest exhales… and so do we.

This summer, our Wellness Kids explored:

🌿 Making herbal potions from foraged plants
🎨 Nature art and mandalas to express emotion
🌼 Finding peace through storytelling and ceremony
🌀 Wild weaving and soft connection time
🍃 Games that helped us move, regulate, and reconnect

We’ve laughed, learned, built dens and woven kindness into every stick and leaf.

⸻

What’s next for Living Nature?

✨ Monthly Saturday Wellness Club launching soon
🌳 Seasonal family wellness days at Werneth Low
🧠 Therapeutic arts & nature clubs for teens (8-month pilot)
🌿 Our Learning Hub for home-educated children starts this September
💫 Therapy & holistic support available for children and families

If you’re looking for something slower, deeper, rooted in nature and full of heart — this is it.

📍 Based in Tameside, Stockport & Greater Manchester
📬 DM to find out more or join our newsletter

22/08/2025

22/08/2025

This week at the Wellness Kids Club we’ve been exploring two big themes: emotion and space. 💧🌌

On Monday, we looked at water as a teacher. We noticed how water flows around us – rivers, puddles, raindrops – and how it flows inside us too, just like our emotions. Sometimes calm and still, sometimes rushing and wild.

We foraged herbs that need water to grow, crafted our own magic potions, and even built a raft to see how water carries and supports us. It was a playful way to explore that emotions, like water, are always moving – and that’s okay.

✨ Yesterday we shifted to the theme of space. We asked: what does it feel like to create space in our minds, our bodies, and in the world around us? Nature teaches us that space can be calming, expansive, or even magical – like finding a secret fairy glen in the woods.

On our forage walk, we gathered natural treasures to design our own spaces, each one filled with an intention – peace, calm, joy, or play. In the afternoon, we celebrated the land by creating a nature mandala, honouring the beauty of what we’d found. We also turned the woodland itself into an obstacle course, reminding us that space can be playful and adventurous too. 🌿🌟

🧠 Psychoeducation moment: Both water and space are powerful metaphors for wellbeing. Water helps children (and adults!) understand that emotions flow and change, while spaciousness – whether through a mindful breath or time in nature – helps calm the nervous system and sparks creativity.

This week reminded us that nature doesn’t just surround us – it teaches us how to live, feel, and grow. 🌍💫

👉 What’s your favourite way to connect with water or create space in your life?

21/08/2025

This is beautiful 🌱 — and it raises an interesting question: where does empathy live in the UK curriculum?

Yes, we have PSHE lessons, wellbeing frameworks, and some schools offer circle time or mindfulness. But often these are add-ons rather than core, consistent practices. Children may learn about kindness in theory, but are they given regular, lived opportunities to practise empathy, compassion, and emotional awareness?

🧠 Psychoeducation moment: Compassion isn’t just “being nice.” It’s the ability to notice another’s suffering, feel it with them, and take action to support. Interestingly, many adults struggle to define it, let alone practise it daily. No wonder children sometimes find it hard to navigate!

This is where nature becomes a teacher. Outside, children learn naturally about empathy: caring for a bug, noticing how plants need water, or supporting a friend to climb a tree. Space, slowness, and play in the outdoors invite children to connect — with themselves, with others, and with the living world.

Perhaps empathy is less about teaching a “lesson” and more about creating environments where compassion can grow. 🌳💚

👉 What do you think — do adults truly know what compassion is? And how do you see children learning it best?

In Denmark, empathy is taught just like math or reading. From ages 6 to 16, children take weekly classes focused on understanding feelings, showing compassion, and learning how to care for one another, building not just knowledge but stronger communities.

18/08/2025

Why is Wellness a Girl Thing? 🤔🌿

Something we’ve noticed lately…

In our Wellness Circles and Wellness Clubs, the majority of participants — whether they’re little ones or grown-ups — are female. 🌸

Now, it’s not only girls. We do get the occasional boy sprinting through the woods or man stretching under the trees (reluctantly at first, enthusiastically by the end!) — but there’s definitely a trend.

Which got us thinking…
Why does wellness seem to whisper more loudly to women and girls?
Even when we include outdoor adventure, sport, fire, and plenty of space for independence and creativity?

Let’s unpack this a little.

🔹 Did you know?
– Women are more likely to seek mental health support, with NHS data showing around 60% of therapy clients are female.
– Men are more likely to experience ‘masked depression’ — showing symptoms through anger, overworking, or withdrawal.
– In boys, emotional needs often get missed or misread as behavioural problems. 😔
– And… social conditioning still plays a big part. “Be strong.” “Man up.” “Don’t cry.”

It’s no surprise, then, that safe, expressive, emotionally open spaces can feel more female — even when they’re designed for everyone.

💬 So we’d love to hear from you:

✨ Parents of boys — what do you think your sons need to feel safe in these kinds of spaces?
✨ Dads and father figures — would you come to a wellness circle? What would need to shift?
✨ Mums — what helps your daughters feel at home in these settings, and how might that differ for your sons?

We’re open, flexible, and always learning.
Wellness is not pink. Or soft. Or sparkly. It’s human.

So let’s talk.

👇 Drop your thoughts below or message us privately — we’d love to hear what you think.

18/08/2025

Hi everyone, I’m hosting a gentle New Moon Wellness Circle this Bank Holiday Monday evening (25th August) at Werneth Low. It’s a small, nature-based gathering with movement, breathwork, journalling and a sound bath under the trees.

These sessions are really calming and help people slow down, release stress, and feel more grounded. You don’t need any experience — just come as you are.

Places are limited to 12 and booking is pay-what-you-can (£6–£15).
Full details below — feel free to message me if you’d like to come along or have any questions.

Wellness Circle – Monday 25th August
6.30pm – 8.00pm | Werneth Low Country Park
Pay what you can: £6–£15

This month’s Wellness Circle is a gentle, grounding gathering to reconnect with your inner energy as the seasons begin to shift.

Together we’ll explore:

– Breathwork to return to the body
– Somatic movement to awaken and soften
– Forest bathing to connect with the land
– Practices of gratitude and quiet reflection
– A soothing sound bath to close beneath the trees

These circles are open to all — no experience is needed. Whether you’re completely new or returning again, you’re warmly welcome.

People often tell us they leave feeling lighter, less stressed, and more at ease in themselves — with better sleep and a deeper sense of calm.

We meet in a peaceful spot near the Visitor Centre at Werneth Low. The exact location is sent upon booking.

Booking is essential – limited to 12 places
Book at: www.livingnatureuk.org/booking

Contribution:
Pay what you can:
£6 • £9 • £12 • £15

If you’re considering coming or want to ask anything, feel free to message me — I’d love to welcome you into the circle.

You’re first one is FREE 🍃

18/08/2025

Wellness Circle – Monday 25th August
6.30pm – 8.00pm | Werneth Low Country Park
Pay what you can: £6–£15

This month’s Wellness Circle is a gentle, grounding gathering to reconnect with your inner energy as the seasons begin to shift.

Together we’ll explore:

– Breathwork to return to the body
– Somatic movement to awaken and soften
– Forest bathing to connect with the land
– Practices of gratitude and quiet reflection
– A soothing sound bath to close beneath the trees

These circles are open to all — no experience is needed. Whether you’re completely new or returning again, you’re warmly welcome.

People often tell us they leave feeling lighter, less stressed, and more at ease in themselves — with better sleep and a deeper sense of calm.

We meet in a peaceful spot near the Visitor Centre at Werneth Low. The exact location is sent upon booking.

Booking is essential – limited to 12 places
Book at: www.livingnatureuk.org/booking

Contribution:
Pay what you can:
£6 • £9 • £12 • £15

If you’re considering coming or want to ask anything, feel free to message me — I’d love to welcome you into the circle.

You’re first one is FREE 🍃