Why being in nature is good for your wellbeing

Learn more about the connection between happiness and being outdoors in this guest post written by Natural Resources Wales.

Evidence from around the world shows that nature and happiness are intertwined, with 80% of the happiest people showing a strong connection to nature. 

Being outside in natural spaces can have positive effects on your wellbeing in many ways: 

• Exposure to nature helps people to regulate their mood and improve emotional resilience.
• 83% more people engage in social activity in natural spaces compared with sparsely vegetated or concreted ones.
• Being around plants and trees has been shown to have a calming effect on the part of the nervous system responsible for stress and anxiety.
• Daylight exposure helps to regulate the brain’s melatonin and serotonin levels, which are fundamental for good sleep.
• A change of environment can be a really good way of de-stressing and forgetting about things that may be weighing on your mind.
• If you can be active, a 20-minute brisk walk is great way to help you feel energised, boosting oxygen to every cell in your body.
• Walking makes you feel happier by releasing feel-good endorphins that reduce stress and anxiety, and it helps to preserve your memory and prevent dementia as you age.
• Focusing on nature around you can help you be mindful of the present moment and reduce anxiety and stress.

Connect with nature through activity, learning and art

Being in natural spaces, learning about the environment and being inspired by nature are three ways you can build a strong connection with nature that brings lifelong benefits to both your physical and mental wellbeing and the environment.

Get active outside

Physical and mental health are closely connected. Activity that benefits your body also benefits your brain by triggering the release of feel-good chemicals that can improve your mood.

Natural Resources Wales cares for woodlands and National Nature Reserves throughout Wales where you can boost your physical and mental health regardless of your age or fitness level.

Covering woodland, mountain and coast, we offer trails for a variety of activities, including:

• 550 km of walking trails
• over 600 km of mountain bike and cycling trails
• almost 100 km of running trails
• around 30 km of horse-riding trails.

All our trails are waymarked and graded so you can choose the right level for you.

Many of our walking trails have information panels that can help you learn about the history and culture of the place you’re visiting – which also helps boost your mental wellbeing. 

Some of our sites have accessible trails, which are suitable for everyone, including wheelchair users and people with pushchairs, and cycling trails for users of adaptive equipment. 

We also manage Wales’ long-distance trails – the 870-mile Wales Coast Path and the three National Trails in Wales: Offa’s Dyke Path, Pembrokeshire Coast Path and Glyndwr’s Way.

Get learning

Outdoor learning is especially important for children, promoting academic attainment and enhancing cognitive and emotional processes. Evidence shows that being in the outdoors can help to reduce symptoms of ADHD and the effect of stressful events on children and young people.

Playing in nature contributes to children’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive development. It forges a strong connection to nature and helps to lay down lifelong pro-environmental and healthy behaviours. Find ideas for nature play and family fun on the Natural Resources Wales website.

We also provide education resources to help learners understand about a wide variety of environmental topics. 

Get creative

Through our partnership with the Arts Council Wales, we help to cultivate the relationship between the arts and the natural environment.

We aim to bring communities together through creative activity in Wales’ outdoor spaces to help people value nature and build a healthy and sustainable future.

Our woodlands and National Nature Reserves provide space for you to immerse yourself in nature and stimulate your creativity. 

Forest bathing is a way of connecting to nature around you using your senses. Combining it with creative writing has been shown to increase feelings of positivity and lead to better wellbeing.

Drawing and sketching in nature is another mindful activity that can help you slow down and focus on the moment.

Some of our places are home to sculpture trails that let you experience art as you walk:

• Sculpture Discovery Trail, Forest Fawr, near Caerphilly
• Sculpture Trail, Newport Wetlands National Nature Reserve
• Barcud Trail, Bwlch Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre, near Aberystwyth
• Lady Mary’s Walk, Gwydir Forest Park – Sawbench, near LLanrwst

Many businesses use our woodlands and reserves for their events, so look out locally for creative activities taking place near you.