A nature walk with young children is guaranteed to feel really special. Those were my thoughts, anyway, after our walk around Bovey Heathfield. A few days ago, I was lucky enough to be asked to help lead a nature walk for young families, organised by Better Places and the Devon Wildlife Trust. It was my first time being involved in an event like this, and I left with not just valuable experience, but a feeling of wanting to do more. So, here’s the story of how I found that feeling.
To begin with, I’m sure you’ve read somewhere over the past few years that slowing down and connecting with nature can be hugely beneficial for us. Scientific studies have shown that it can directly improve both our mental and physical well-being, lower stress and anxiety, and can boost our resilience and attention spans. And this understanding and interest in the natural environment is best to be fostered young, because that emotional attachment to it can amplify these kinds of traits, so sought-after in this busy modern world, later in life.
Immersed in nature, time tends to slow down and become less of a burden on our daily lives. You take a walk to your local lake or woods, tell yourself you’re just going to be quick, and then stroll right out of there with a huge grin on your face and less weight on your shoulders, an hour later than you told yourself you would leave. You’re slightly poorer in time, but emotionally richer. The time you’ve just spent releases more dopamine and serotonin (the happy hormones) than any doomscroll can, at a steadier rate. No spikes to leave you down in the dumps afterwards.
During the nature walk, you could see in people’s faces and body language just how relaxed they were. Sure, it took a few minutes to set in, but for the children crouching in gorse searching for Seven-Spot Ladybirds and Nursery Web Spiders, and for the parents chatting away happily as they watch their kids lose themselves in exploration and discovery, the positive effects would have been endless. It was amazing to be able to give people this feeling, all while showing them the dimension that I’ve loved since, well, forever.
Our group spent a happy hour ambling about the heath, a section of one of the UK’s rarest habitats that was home to so many scarce and rare species. I didn’t expect the avalanche of enthusiastic questions I received, and teaching young faces about some of my favourite species in an impromptu gorse-ringed classroom is an experience I recommend everyone should try in their lifetime.
It brought back memories of when I was that age, rushing about, searching for birds, insects, anything I could find and either happily watch or meticulously examine. You don’t expect to, but you find yourself learning from your students. In today’s society, it’s a common misconception that you can only learn from those older, smarter or with more life experience than you, but this simply isn’t true.
I think it’s safe to say that I’m not the most social of people. Luckily for me, these events are the kind of places I thrive in, knowing that people will respect me and listen to what I have to say. But that goes both ways, and it was incredible to speak to those who came along, young and old. Your creativity and enthusiasm really came to the fore, and through that, I’m sure I’m not the only one who felt their confidence and social connection increase as well.
Thanks so much to everyone who came along and made the walk so special. As I’ve mentioned, it was organised by Better Places and the Devon Wildlife Trust, the former of which have created an amazing schedule of events for young families during the school holidays, around Bovey and beyond. Local Wildlife Trusts volunteer groups such as the Bovey Tracey Local Group, also run walks, workshops and other activities, both for children and adults, aimed at any ability or knowledge level. I highly recommend you check these out!
The Bovey Birder 