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Writer's pictureRiverside Naturally

What does nature mean to you?

Updated: Feb 3, 2022

We’d like to encourage discussion within Riverside (and beyond) about the value of nature to people.


Nature is fundamental to our lives and lifestyles, providing energy, water, food, materials for clothing and shelter and much more. Nature and landscapes also provide vast opportunities for enjoying the outdoors, offering a range of active and passive things to do with benefits to health and well-being.


Childhood memories being made.

This includes simply enjoying nature for its own sake. John Muir (1838 – 1914), the great Scottish born environmentalist, best known for his role in encouraging national parks in the USA, believed in the power of nature as an essential place of retreat from busy lifestyles, through which people could restore and maintain their health and well being. He so enjoyed walking away from the complexities of every day life to declutter his mind with the simple act of living in the moment with nature.


People often describe their outdoor experiences in terms of what they did (great cycle in fab weather), what they saw (amazing wildlife and views) or what they achieved (“got to the top of the hill, whew!”), and this certainly helps to enthuse others to have a go. However, people are probably less inclined to say what they think and feel about nature and landscapes, though they may have unexpressed profound views.


It seems logical that the more people talk about nature, and the importance of it to their everyday lives – amidst everything else (!), the more chance of elevating the understanding of nature in society and increasing its importance to politicians, the media and other decision makers. Perhaps modern people as not as disconnected from nature as commonly thought. So we’d like to hear your views on how nature and landscapes make you tick, whether it’s in generalities or about a specific experience.


· What do you think of nature?


· How does it affect you?


· How do you express it?


Getting away from everything and enjoy the unspoiled beauty.

Perhaps you’ll be inspired by some of John Muir’s thought provoking quotes:


“In every walk with Nature, one receives far more than he seeks”


“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in”


“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt”


“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul”


….Perhaps you have your own quote?


Picnics in the fresh air.

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2 Comments


andycloquet60
Jun 26, 2019

As a former teacher (English and Outdoor Learning) with young people who presented extremely challenging behaviour, I worked in an off-site school which specilaised in providing a community-based, educational setting. Quite frequently, when a young person had been kicking off, threatening and disturbing his/her peers, I would be asked to 'do' something outdoors with them....you can anticipate the result. Frequently calmed, wanting to be active and the adrenalin from their anxiety re-directed towards what they were doing outdoors.


OL was one of the few ways we could engage them in significantly lasting worthwhile experiences, providing them with ways to feel better and then (the nitty-gritty side of my professional work) engaging in conversation which aimed to help them address their…


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eamclaughlin
Jun 25, 2019


One evening, around 7pm, I took the notion to scoop up the family and go for a wee run in the car. I used to be taken as a child over to a dam on the River Awe to watch the salmon jumping and the thrill of being out so late, having a mini picnic and maybe, just maybe, seeing a salmon leap is a lasting, cherished memory. I really want my children to look back too and remember with excitement, the fun we had.


We ended up at Loch Lubnaig well after the parking gates had shut and we had the entire loch side to ourselves. It was truly magical. The evening was warm and bright, the loch w…


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