As days get shorter and colder it can feel more difficult to spend time outdoors and get that much needed vitamin D dose. But worry not, in this article we provide you with four fun activities to help you connect with nature this October.
Activity 1: Walks in nature
I love October because it is a month of transition. Whilst some trees and plants start turning yellow, gold, red and brown, others are still in flower – like a couple of roses right now in my garden or the ivy wrapping trees along the hedges!
This contrast is fascinating. Walking is a great way of noticing all of the changes that nature is going through at this time of the year. It makes one appreciate that nature, and life itself, is always in constant change.
This week whilst in London for work I took the scenic route on my way to the office. It meant walking through Bernie Spain Gardens. I love this little green oasis, tucked right in the centre of all the hustle and bustle of Lambeth. The noise coming from the traffic is loud but whenever I walk past it, I instantly feel connected to the beautiful planting of its borders. The amount of plants still in flower at this time of the year completely surprised me. This is most likely because of the micro climate created by the surrounding buildings.
For those living in cities, green spaces like parks, squares and greens provide a much needed respite from the fast paced lifestyle of a city. Taking a walk whilst making a conscious decision to notice types of plants, trees, colours, textures and bird song can help us connect with nature.
Even small gardens like Bernie Spain Gardens are packed with opportunities to ground ourselves and bring some inner balance into our daily lives.
What is your green oasis? Leave us a comment or join our community to share with others who are on their journey to spend more time in nature.
Bernie Spain Gardens in London is still bursting with colours
Activity 2: Pumpkin Carving
I must confess that my neighbour gave me pumpkin seeds earlier this year and I didn’t sow them. I am, however, looking forward to seeing their carved pumpkins on display for halloween.
You can buy your pumpkin in a grocery store but if you are feeling more adventurous, pumpkin picking might be right for you. For those based either near Essex or Hertfordshire, Hatter’s Farm is a popular option. Their moonlight pumpkin picking event is especially good for those who want to feel a bit spooky!
How to carve it? There are thousands of videos on youtube but my recommendation is to get creative and let your inner child guide you. I particularly liked this one.
What to do after all the trick or treating is over? Turn your pumpkin into soup, cookies or roast their seeds. Waste not!
What are your pumpkin plans? Leave us a comment or join our community to share with others who are on their journey to spend more time in nature.
Activity 3: Join parkrun
October marks their 20th birthday so if you have not yet joined parkrun, this is a great opportunity!
parkrun is a free community event that takes place on Saturday mornings (5k) and on Sunday mornings (2k). The Sunday event is aimed at children and families. The Saturday event is the most popular one, with children and families also joining.
It is important to stress that you do not need to run to join Parkrun. Walking is totally fine. My first parkrun was a mix of walking and running. There is no timing to complete the circuit and everyone is welcome.
Some Parkruns, like the one near me, even allow dogs. This was perfect for socialising my dog as a puppy and exercising him as an adult.
What I like most about Parkrun is the community element. I joined as a way of meeting others when I moved from London to Hampshire encouraged by a neighbour recommendation. People tend to chat to one another before the start and after crossing the finish line. In the one near me there are two cafés where Parkrunners congregate and the chit chat continues.
If neither running nor walking is for you, you can also join as a volunteer or simply as a bystander.
Many parkrunners also attend parkruns outside of their home one for fun. We even had people all the way down from Scotland at ours!
At the time of writing this blog post, there are 1,286 Parkrun events in the UK. You can search for the nearest one in their website here.
Are you already a parkrunner or are you thinking of becoming one? Leave us a comment or join our community to share with others who are on their journey to spend more time in nature.
Activity 4: Attend a harvest festival
It is harvest season for top fruit. Many orchards around the country open it’s doors at this time of the year for fruit picking, cider and perry tasting and to provide informative talks about heritage varieties.
I wrote a full blog post on this last week here about my experience of visiting Brogdale Farm. This is where the National Fruit Collection resides.
Going to a harvest festival? Leave us a comment or join our community to share with others who are on their journey to spend more time in nature.
