Naturally Healthy Month

By Clare Groom

Posted 9th May 2019

This month is Naturally Healthy May across Devon and Somerset – a chance for us to celebrate our natural open spaces and encourage you to reap the rewards of getting active in nature. Our local natural environment is amazing and offers a variety of ways for us all to be naturally healthy. Naturally Healthy May is all about getting outdoors and enjoying our beautiful surroundings and feeling happier and healthier for it.

As we get older, we often juggle our time with work and family commitments, or we might have health conditions and limited mobility that can put us off getting outdoors. May is an ideal opportunity to make some time for yourself and connect to nature and there is clear evidence that this offers huge benefits to our physical health, mental health and wellbeing. It doesn’t have to be big, small amounts of time doing simple and easy activities in the open air can still have a positive impact on the way we feel.
Joining in with some new activities outdoors is a great way to see more of your local area, make friends, spend quality time with family, and to destress and energise after work. Activities could include a ramble with family or friends, taking a walk in your lunch break or volunteering with a wildlife group.
During Naturally Healthy May, why not come along to one of the naturally healthy events going on in the Blackdown Hills AONB and elsewhere in Devon and Somerset, or simply make May the month you start to explore the great outdoors a little more. Take a moment to listen to the bird song, breathe the fresh country air and delight in the beautiful surroundings.

Countryside scene with a patchwork of fields and an oak tree framed with trees branches

Countryside close to Buckland Wood. Photo: Clare Groom

What’s on in Naturally Healthy Month?

Sing and stroll

Sunday 19 May | 2pm – 4pm | Corfe, Somerset | free | booking essential
Learn simple songs and take a melodic mini-meander in the beautiful Blackdown Hills.
There is evidence to show that both singing and experiencing the natural environment benefit our physical and mental wellbeing. So, for Naturally Healthy Month, we’ve put the two together!
Starting from Corfe Village Hall (near Taunton, Somerset), this is a very short and easy walk. Novices very welcome.
Booking: www.blackdownhills.org.uk/sing&stroll

Go Wild in Honiton

Thursday 30 May | 11am – 2pm | Beehive, Honiton | free | no booking required
Blackdown Hills AONB staff and volunteers will be running wildlife-themed activities for children in the Beehive community centre’s new wildlife garden. This is part of a wider celebration of activities In Honiton, throughout the half-term week.

Info: www.blackdownhillsaonb.org.uk/event/go-wild-in-honiton

A wild day out with the family
Friday 31 May | 10.30am – 3pm | Castle Neroche | Free | booking essential
Join staff and volunteers from Blackdown Hills AONB Forestry England for nature-themed fun including bug hunting, wild art, seed scattering and practical conservation.

www.blackdownhillsaonb.org.uk/event/a-wild-day-out-with-the-family/