Garden Therapy

    

In some ways garden therapy can be more accessible than forest therapy. Forests are wild, as nature intended, gardens are more under control, nature with human intervention, a bit more organised. One great thing about living in London has been my association with Kew Gardens. My dad used to work here, his ashes are scattered here, I used to work next door. We mostly visit it in the Spring and Summer. These are some of my favourite photos from our frequent visits.

   

Flower sketches

I drew these flowers to illustrate 'Get Well Soon' and 'With Sympathy' cards for my craft stall. I love drawing, especially faces and flowers, and hopefully will continue to do so. Drawing nature is a good way to de-stress and relax.

Take a Walk

Mindful walking is a thing. I did this walk along the River Brent from Ealing Hospital to Brentford when I was in a very bad place psychologically, so memories of it are mixed up with how bad I was feeling at the time. It is also a lonely walk, which kind of didn't help. My favourite walk by water is the Thames Path between the Royal Festival Hall and Southwark Cathedral. I think walking where there are people around rather than being too solitary is possibly more therapeutic, but I suppose it really depends on your state of mind.

Walking with nature

 

I first discovered the joy of nature walking in August 2019 when I visited our local House Gardens in Hillingdon. By March 2020 we had found six special nature spaces we could visit on the bus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Covid 19 and the national lockdown meant we had to find nature places within walking distance. Thanks to Google maps we found a different local nature walk for every day of the week.

In Summer 2020 we were able to return to our original six places and we found even more green spaces to explore in the Autumn. The Winter brought fresh restrictions, but our nature walking continued, nearly every day, which really helped us through this very difficult time.

When Spring 2021 arrived, I was determined to visit the House Gardens at this special time of year. We managed to visit them once in March, once in April and twice in May.

It has been good to visit all our special places in Summer 2021, they have been very important for our mental health and wellbeing over the trying times of the pandemic and beyond. I hope we will continue with our local nature walking well into the future.

 

The Missing Links 2021

Covid19 has continued to wreak havoc with planned visits this year. These are the places I have been concentrating my efforts on getting to in 2021.

The House Gardens in Spring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We didn't visit the House Gardens at all in Spring 2020, due to the first Covid19 lockdown. I was determined to visit them in Spring 2021. We visited them once in March, once in April and twice in May and very beautiful they were.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crane Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I visited this park when I was very young. It lingered in my mind and I was very pleased to revisit it in 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Belfast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One and a half years since first booking our Belfast trip, it was a relief to get there in June 2021. I found Belfast to be enjoyable, intriguing and slightly old-fashioned. I particularly enjoyed the Titanic quarter by the River Lagan and the sightseeing bus tour.

 

Japanese Garden @ Regent's Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We visited this place on a summer’s Saturday in June. It was very crowded and a bit fraught. But I was pleased to have made it here at last.

 

 

Westfield Park, Shepherds Bush

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We used to go to Westfield just to look at the shops, but on recent visits I have become intrigued with the urban park that is being developed there. Plus, we can enjoy a latte in one of the many cafes and visit a real life book shop.

 

The V&A Museum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amy and I both agreed that the V&A was our favourite museum in London. We hope to enjoy an unrestricted visit here before the end of the year.