Londoners' chance to nurture nature
Spring sunshine on time for 'happy' outdoor events
Walkers stepping out for their health and wellbeing, as part of the Natural England Happier Outdoors Festival. Photo: Sally Oldfield
Groucho Marx said: 바카라 사이트śYesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn바카라 사이트™t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I바카라 사이트™m going to be happy in it.바카라 사이트ť
And with the warm spring sunshine greeted by so many like a long-lost friend, Londoners are being urged to get outside and connect with so-called green and blue spaces.
Over the next 2 weeks, the Happier Outdoors Festival highlights the chance to discover the London you might not know. The capital바카라 사이트™s hidden nature nuggets rubbing shoulders with the hustle and bustle of city life.
With green land and waterways making up about half of Greater London, there is every reason to mark the return of longer, lighter days by feeling, embracing and being part of nature. Â
But one in 5 Londoners say they haven바카라 사이트™t recently visited a green space, lower than any region in England [i]
More than 70 classes, groups and sessions make up the city celebration of the great outdoors 바카라 사이트“ a mix of walks, clubs and events to relax or educate the mind and improve both your physical and mental state.
From Tai Chi classes in Harrow or counting bird numbers in Haringey, to taking a gentle stroll around woods and gardens in Lewisham or Croydon, building hotels for bugs in Barnet, and maybe putting your back into some organised gardening in Ealing.     Â
Laura Brown, Natural England바카라 사이트™s lead health adviser for London, said:
바카라 사이트śThe importance of open spaces cannot be underestimated. Nature can relax us, educate us, and help reduce anxiety and depression.
바카라 사이트śWe know there are countless benefits to connecting with nature 바카라 사이트“ it makes us feel better, physically and mentally. The second Happier Outdoors Festival builds on last year, promoting the connection between people and urban nature.
바카라 사이트śI바카라 사이트™m excited for Londoners to discover natural spaces just minutes from their home or be inspired by a new outdoor hobby they had never considered before.바카라 사이트ť
Natural England founded the Happier Outdoors network, a group of more than 30 organisations running events to encourage people in London to connect with nature for improved health and wellbeing.Â
All events are free, and have either been arranged especially for the festival or continue throughout the year.
A full list of what바카라 사이트™s on and how to get involved can be found at . The Happier Outdoors Festival runs between 7 and 16 April.
The clarion call to get outside comes as a wide-ranging opens into how exposure to natural spaces affects people바카라 사이트™s health, behaviour and attitude to the environment over an extended period of time. Â Â Â Â
The three-year study will involve a sample of approximately 18,000 adults across the country, in a partnership between Natural England, the University of Exeter and the Natural Environment Research Council, and developed by organisations from a range of sectors.
[i] The People and Nature Survey for England 2024: /government/statistics/the-people-and-nature-surveys-for-england-adults-data-y5q2-july-2024-september-2024.
Contact us:
Journalists only: 0800 141 2743 or communications_se@environment-agency.gov.uk