“The Nurture of Nature”

The positive impact on our health of being outdoors is now widely known, but only recently has more detailed research led to ‘outdoor therapy’ being prescribed by therapists, psychologists and other health practitioners.

I was delighted to feature in the Winter 2020 edition of Summit Magazine by the BMC (British Mountaineering Council), including a fabulous double page photo of me climbing in Portland earlier in the year. Elsewhere in the article are experiences of other people whose lives have also been changed by regularly spending time outdoors. Most importantly for me are the words about Black Dog Outdoors, the UK charity which aims to reconnect people with the great outdoors, and help improve wellbeing and mental health. I worked with Black Dog Outdoors in September this year, introducing climbing and abseiling to people from all walks of life. I could tell from the outset that these Black Dog events were something very special; the gentle support and encouragement, friendliness, space to take part or just sit and watch, created a wonderfully positive but relaxed atmosphere.

Those of us who are used to climbing already can sometimes forget how scary and intimidating it can be for the first time. Adding mental health issues into the mix could easily put a nervous newcomer off immediately. But finding supportive environments - like those created by Black Dog Outdoors - can be the perfect vehicle for lifting someone out of a dark place and into nature’s light.

Find out more about Black Dog Outdoors, and how to support their work.