Spend time in nature and if possible, have nature around you as much as you can. Bring it into your home, your office, your bedroom and try and not to be scared of it. Grow house plants, herbs, vegetables and care for them well and it will improve your health and your home.

I work as a therapist and researcher and enjoy using ecotherapy and shamanic practices to support my clients. I sometimes do walk and talk sessions with people in nature spaces and they are amazing, because once you connect with the natural world it can bring you so much comfort, awareness and joy. I often say that “nature is our greatest healer.” I know this is true, because it has helped me so much through my darkest and most difficult times.

I used to be really scared of nature. Mainly birds and many other animals and insects, big and small but the more time I spent admiring and observing the natural world, the less fearful I became. I know many people are scared of spiders and while in many countries that fear is healthy, in Ireland that fear seems less rational, as they can’t do much damage to us here.

My youngest child is scared of spiders and one of my favourite Mummy duties is ‘emancipating’ them from her room. We don’t kill the little things in this house; we set them free. Because we respect them and we know how important the non-human world is to a healthy planet. Every little act of kindness matters, in my opinion.

Yesterday I spent lots of time in nature. First on my own and then with friends and it was so lovely.  I walked in my local park and visited the allotments which I have recently put myself on a list to hopefully get one in the future. I walked round the area and admired the plots. They were so alive, vibrant and diverse. Each plot showed the character of the guardian/s and was a display of nature care, hard work and creativity. The flowers, the butterflies, the vegetables, the weeds and the arrangements were nourishing and inspiring to see. I also believe that nature is our greatest healer and when you love and respect nature, it has a wonderful way of loving you back.

For many people the climate crisis is the biggest crisis we have ever faced as a species. Climate breakdown has been accelerating for decades and the science is overwhelming. That and the ecological crisis, often referred to as the sixth mass extinction can make people feel disconnected, disillusioned and hopeless. But that is why nature connection is more important now than ever before.

Through my research, work and experiences I know that the people most likely to protect and safeguard our world for all climate children are those who have a deep love and affection for the natural world. As those people are most strongly connected to the natural world. They care about the more-than-human world and they care about the environment. And the more you spend time in nature and connect with plants, animals and wildlife, the more you will celebrate, value and want to nurture it.

Yesterday after spending time in my local forest park, I went with friends to a beach in Donegal I had never been to before. My friend and I went in for a dip even though we were a little bit scared of what was in the water and what might be hidden in the sand. But we went in and had so much fun, nonetheless.

It was revitalising, it was energising and it was exactly what we all needed to connect with ourselves, each other and the beautiful world around us. We played on a rubber ring and only got out when our fingers were very wrinkled and we got too cold. The child in me loved every minute and the adult in me needed the recharge and reset for the week ahead.

We then walked along the beach counting jellyfish, crabs and looking for heart shaped pebbles (one of my favourite things to do).

The day ended with us full of contentment, gratitude and a deeper love for the ocean, the elements and this wonderful place we all get to call home.

Spend some time in nature every day and you will come to love the world around you even more and that will benefit every other living thing that lives here too.