Why being in nature is so important

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Why being in nature is so important

Tonight BBC Panorama is featuring the story of Callie, a young woman from Kent, who tragically took her own life, because her mental illness was not properly treated.  Callie was a regular at Wildwood Trust, where she would spend hours observing the animals, the wolves being her favorites. Her mother believes that she preferred the company of animals to humans and that being with the animals at Wildwood helped delay the tragic ending to her story.  Science keeps discovering new ways that nature can help humans, both mentally and physically. And with Callies story being told tonight, we at Wildwood want to take the opportunity to share with you some of this amazing knowledge.

Learn more about the programme

In Scotland doctors have, since October 2018, been authorised to prescribe nature to patients and in Japan so called 'Forest bathing' has been practiced for years.  And all with good cause: Physically: Being in nature and moving around in it benefits your heart, lungs, and the whole musculoskeletal system, with positive effects on many lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, cancer and obesity. Science also shows both blood pressure and the immune system improving after regular exposure to nature. There's even science suggesting that exposure to nature increases the number of cells in our immune system. Mentally: There is a growing body of empirical evidence suggesting that close experiences with nature lowers feelings of anxiety and depression.  Exposure to greenspace actually significantly reduces people's levels of salivary cortisol -- a physiological marker of stress and it has been shown to improve symptoms of ADHD. Finally being in nature has a way of making problems seem less troublesome.  Children also benefit hugely from nature. Not only will being outside bring more physical exercise, which many children today need, but science has also found that exposure to nature in childhood, can lead to better mental health and vitality in adulthood.  Acquiring new knowledge while outside also has a most positive effect on learning, with kids being more creative and confident while being outside.

''feeling connected to nature and knowing you're one piece in a magnificent puzzle, is vitalising''

Being around animals Pet owners have known it for years: Owning a pet is good for you. Science can tell us why: Pets put no judgement or pressure on you and they lower levels of anxiety and loneliness. In terms of physical benefits, stroking an animal is amazing for lowering heart rates and reducing physical feelings of stress.  While you can't exactly come in and stroke the wild animals at Wildwood, just being near them can have some of that effect as well. Animals don't stress and everything they do, they do for a good reason. Seeing them just being animals, in natural environments, is truly calming.  Gazing at wild animals also provide us with the sense of being part of something greater than ourselves. A sense that many feel have been lost in a global world, where humans take up increasingly more space and nature is often pushed aside and where we spend up to 90% of our lives indoors. But feeling connected to nature and knowing you're one piece in a magnificent puzzle, is vitalising.  What to do next? While our number one advice will of course be to spend a day at Wildwood :) - there are other things you can do: - take little moments in nature as often as you can. E.g. pop outside when you have a break at work - do some research for interesting local nature areas and make plans to go for a walk there this coming weekend - find out what you like to do in nature. You don't have to be a hiker or a bird watcher to enjoy it. Simply sitting on a bench in a natural setting and relax - share your experiences with others, especially kids.

Scientific sources: - https://theecologist.org/2019/nov/07/nature-connection-helps-children-learn - https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180706102842.htm - https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/7/eaax0903 - https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190521193735.htm - https://www.psychreg.org/connection-with-nature/ - https://gulfnews.com/lifestyle/community/the-many-psychological-benefits-of-being-around-animals-1.1822456

FOLLOW US Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildwoodtrust Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WildwoodTrust Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thewildwoodtrust   ABOUT WILDWOOD Wildwood Trust opened in 1999 as a centre of excellence for the conservation of British wildlife, and was established as a registered charity in 2002. Wildwood is Kent's best British wildlife park. Home to over 200 native animals, past and present and set in 40 acres of beautiful ancient woodland where visitors can see bears, wolves, bison, deer, owls, foxes, red squirrels, wild boar, lynx, wild horses, badgers and beavers plus many more. As one of the leading British animal conservation charities in the UK, Wildwood Trust is dedicated to saving Britain's most threatened wildlife. Wildwood Trust have taken part in many ground-breaking conservation programmes to date, which include, saving the water vole, using wild horses to help restore Kent's most precious nature reserves, bringing the extinct European beaver back to Britain and returning the hazel dormouse & red squirrel to areas where they have been made extinct.

Wildwood Trust Herne Common Herne Bay Kent CT6 7LQ Registered Charity No: 1093702 Wildwood Kent: 01227 712 111 Wildwood Devon: 01404 822 188 info@wildwoodtrust.org

The joy of wolves - tragic suicide story told

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The joy of wolves

In a shocking story, BBC panorama documents the tragic suicide of a young woman from Kent. 24-year-old Callie Lewis from Kent was an intelligent and promising young woman, but she suffered from autism, and struggled with mental health problems and thoughts of suicide. Story is told by BBC Panorama on Monday February 10th.

Callie was passionate about Wildlife, particularly grey wolves, and she would spend hours studying them at the Kent Wildlife Park 'Wildwood Trust'. Those close to her believe, that it was one of the only places where she felt at ease, free from her inner turmoil. Wolves, much like dogs, are amazing at picking up body language and emotions and it is not unlikely, that Callie's sensitive nature awoke their curiosity. Key to happiness While Callie's story ended in tragedy, nature could potentially help thousands of people. Being in nature has massive positive effects on mental health and happiness. Studies are showing that spending time in nature creates a significant increase in people's health, happiness and connection to nature. It can also help create better self-esteem in children.  In Scotland doctors have, since October 2018, been authorised to prescribe nature to patients and in Japan so called 'Forest bathing' has been practiced for years.  Being in nature and moving around in it benefits your heart, lungs, and the whole musculoskeletal system, with positive effects on many lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, cancer and obesity. Science also shows both blood pressure and the immune system improving after regularly exposure to nature.  There is a growing body of empirical evidence suggesting that close experiences with nature lowers feelings of anxiety and depression. Many scientists believe that feeling connected to nature and feeling part of a greater ecosystem, is essential to life quality in all humans and is nothing less than a key to happiness.

Wildwood Trust Director General Paul Whitfield said: "We feel deeply sorry for the family and for their loss of a bright young mind. We are comforted by the fact that Wildwood Trust had such a positive impact on Callie and that it gave her moments of peace and happiness. Nature has an innate ability to heal humans.

Wolves and dogs have a deep connection with humans – our ancestor probably hunted with them over the last 100,000 years, we evolved together with a deep connection that both affected the wolf's development and our own. Many people grieve for our lost wildlife, an inner sorrow that understands the importance of nature for ourselves and our future. Without natural areas our future could be very bleak. Rewilding our land and seeing the wolf's return could help future generations tackle global climate change, provide clean water and protect us from pollution, floods and the loss of fertile soils to feed ourselves. You can see in the eyes of children a deep love and fascination with nature and our mission at Wildwood is to rekindle our wild spirit and show all our visitors how we can rewild Britain and rewild ourselves. Scientific sources: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180706102842.htm https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/7/eaax0903 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190521193735.htm

CONTACT Wildwood Trust: +44(0)1227 712 111 Julie Luna Bayer: julie@wildwoodtrust.org or 01227 209618 or 07453 497086 Peter Smith: peter@wildwoodtrust.org or 07986 828229   FOLLOW US Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildwoodtrust Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WildwoodTrust Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thewildwoodtrust   ABOUT WILDWOOD Wildwood Trust opened in 1999 as a centre of excellence for the conservation of British wildlife, and was established as a registered charity in 2002. Wildwood is Kent's best British wildlife park. Home to over 200 native animals, past and present and set in 40 acres of beautiful ancient woodland where visitors can see bears, wolves, bison, deer, owls, foxes, red squirrels, wild boar, lynx, wild horses, badgers and beavers plus many more. As one of the leading British animal conservation charities in the UK, Wildwood Trust is dedicated to saving Britain's most threatened wildlife. Wildwood Trust have taken part in many ground-breaking conservation programmes to date, which include, saving the water vole, using wild horses to help restore Kent's most precious nature reserves, bringing the extinct European beaver back to Britain and returning the hazel dormouse & red squirrel to areas where they have been made extinct.

Wildwood Trust Herne Common Herne Bay Kent CT6 7LQ Registered Charity No: 1093702 Wildwood Kent: 01227 712 111 Wildwood Devon: 01404 822 188 info@wildwoodtrust.org

Leave a legacy to British wildlife

Protecting, Conserving & Rewilding British Wildlife Protecting, Conserving & Rewilding British Wildlife View in your browser

Help save British wildlife for future generations with a gift in your Will

Your will is your chance to take care of everything that's important to you and to make sure that those closest to you are taken care of. By remembering Wildwood Trust in your Will, every gift, however large or small, will make a difference. Even just 1%, so those closest to you inherit 99%, would have a significant impact for the future conservation of British wildlife. As one of the leading British animal conservation charities in the UK, Wildwood Trust is dedicated to saving Britain's most threatened wildlife. We have taken part in many ground-breaking conservation programmes to date some of which include: saving the water vole, using wild horses to help restore Kent's most precious nature reserves, bringing the extinct European beaver back to Britain and returning the hazel dormouse and red squirrel to areas where they have previously become extinct.

Find out more

Visit our website and download our free legacy guide to find out more about why it's so important to make a Will, and how a gift in your Will can help save our wildlife. For those of you that don't yet have a Will, we offer a free online Will service where you can make a single Will or a pair of Wills in three easy steps with our partner makeawillonline.co.uk. All Wills are checked by a fully qualified solicitor and covered by £2m insurance. Should you decide to leave a gift to Wildwood Trust in your Will, we want you to know that we will use your gift with the greatest of care. We understand you want your gift to make a difference, so if the time is right for you to remember a charity in your Will, please remember Wildwood Trust and give our wildlife a helping hand.

Wildwood Trust | Copyright - © 2019 Herne Common Herne Bay Kent CT6 7LQ Registered Charity No: 1093702 Tel: 01227 712 111 appeals@wildwoodtrust.org  If you no longer wish to receive emails from us please follow this link

Prehistoric Week at Wildwood

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Join us for a trip back in time this February half-term with our Prehistoric Week at Wildwood Kent. Discover which dinosaurs once roamed across Kent, hold real fossils millions of years old and even learn how to hunt a mammoth!

Daily Talks 11am: White & Black Storks 12pm: Wolves 1pm: Otters 2pm: Beavers Talks and activities will vary each day. Please check with admissions staff for times and location.

Free Activities (including) Make Your Own Fossil Fossil Touch Tables Make a Dinosaur Mask Talks and activities will vary each day. Please check with admissions staff for times and location.

Bushcraft Steve's Prehistoric Activities Tuesday 18th Feb Morning 11am - 12.30pm: Atlatl - Ice Age Spear Throwing Afternoon 2pm - 3.30pm: Ice Age Art - Paint Wildwood's seven kinds of Ice Age animals using natural pigments on cardboard 'cave walls', make a clay animal, spray paint your hand-shape and take it home. Wednesday 19th Feb Morning 11am - 12.30pm: Atlatl - Ice Age Spear Throwing Afternoon 2pm - 3.30pm: Fire-lighting (ancient and modern) plus make your own Ice Age seashell bracelet. Drop-in sessions, no need to book. Children must be supervised. Activities recommended for 5 years and above.

Free Dino Trail Did you know that there is evidence of a variety of dinosaur species being present in Kent millions of years ago? Five of them are on posters around the park. Can you find them and collect their names for the chance to win Wildwood vouchers? Don't forget your pencil!

Wildwood Trust | Copyright - © 2019 Herne Common Herne Bay Kent CT6 7LQ Registered Charity No: 1093702 Tel: 01227 712 111 info@wildwoodtrust.org If you no longer wish to receive emails from us please follow this link