Spending time in green space or bringing nature into our everyday life can benefit both our mental and physical wellbeing. The Mental Health Foundation have carried out research looking into the evidence of how and why our relationship with nature is so important and beneficial to our wellbeing. You can learn more here.
There are a number of ways that we can connect with nature: activities that involve the senses can help to develop our connection with the natural world. And we don’t always have to be in nature to do this: writing a poem about our favourite nature spot or listening to an audio clip, such as the audio trails below, can help bring us closer to nature and feel the benefits of it.
What are Audio Trails?
The Shetland RSPB audio trails aim to provide a sound bite of some of Shetland’s nature friendly places for all in the community. This graded exposure will help when planning a visit to any of the locations, or provide a moment of mindfulness in nature that people can use anywhere at any time.
These audio trails are voiced by the RSPB Shetland Manager, Helen Moncrieff. Shetlander Helen has championed nature connection for health and wellbeing throughout her career and is the co-creator of the widely recognised RSPB Nature Prescriptions.
Helen first realised the power of nature’s sounds on wellbeing from giving a presentation to palliative care patients at the old Montfield Hospital. The RSPB has decades of experience working with different communities in Shetland and developed an understanding that not all people feel able to access and enjoy being in nature – from this the audio trails were born!
Everyone has a right to nature and these accessible resources bring nature inside and aim to encourage compassion for nature and self-compassion.
Helen Moncrieff, RSPB Shetland Manager
How do I access them?
To access the audio files simply click on pin on the map below.
The audio trails are free to download and use but if you would like to donate to further RSPB Shetland nature connection projects, please do so here – https://www.justgiving.com/page/rspbshetlandnatureconnection
FEEDBACK
As these are a new resource, we would appreciate hearing your feedback here. Thanks for listening!
Nature Connection Talks
Below you can find Nature connection online evening sessions from the Wintering Wild and Well series that Shetland RSPB led. There are talks on sea swimming, geology, the weather, and nature sounds.