Life is busy, demanding and sometimes my emotional landscape can take a bit of a stormy battering. I feel the insistent poke of my mental health nudging me to take notice.

As someone who lives with a long-term serious mental health condition, I know that it is important that I take note when these prompts come a-knocking. Trying to focus on my breathing, another email pings to my inbox – another jolt to my nervous system demanding attention. Slightly irritated, I leave my attempts at mindful breath to glance at the message.

And suddenly, I’m smiling.

Taking a step back from the hustle I can pause and see just how many moments I have been offered over the course of the week; to bathe in the myriad ways nature offers gentle support, and the double wellbeing whammy of connection through community. 

The party of primary school kids pausing, fascinated, to watch a thrush make a tasty snack of a less-than-lucky snail in glorious sunshine at Ham Wall. The group of NHS workers finding restoration and inspiration in nature during our visit to the very urban, but non the less nature-miraculous, Longrun Meadow. An observation from a participant about why nature is so generous when we feel included. “Thoughts settle, I am held and know my place in the world”, they said. The delight from someone looking closely and with purpose at a cherry leaf, discovering secretive but distinct tiny red glands for the first time.

If I give myself time to pause and notice, my life is filled with these small moments. How lucky I am! What support nature offers me!

The theme for this years Mental Health Awareness week is ‘action’. And for me, this is where my understanding of the privilege I hold in being included in nature, and knowledge that not everyone has equal access comes together.

Not everyone will love time in nature, I understand this isn’t for everyone. I love a good film with the curtains closed on a rainy day as much as the next person. What I care about is that everyone has the equal opportunity to try – to suck the sap and see, so to speak. Access to good quality green and blue space that are welcoming and safe for all. Encounters that include and welcome diverse folks from all backgrounds and nature experiences. 

Communities (whatever that means for you) in the lead about what they want and what works for them, in the landscapes and with the people they know best.

I just want to share this joy.

And, once again, I come back to joy. I am grateful to be working with a team who, at our heart, just want to find ways we can be useful. To the communities of Somerset and to natures restoration, seeing this as one in the same endeavour.

So, my action for mental health & nature this year is to re-commit to both stand up and make space. To be, in my own small way a part of the ripple for positive change. To hold hope.