When was the last time you felt stressed? Sometimes things in life can be a wee bit too much, or there's just one too many things to do, or just too much on your plate for whatever reason. We speak with Lara Cowan, founder of the Botanic Shed - School of Nature.
Did you know we are genetically determined to love the natural world. It is in our DNA. This affinity to nature is fundamental to our health.
Contact with nature is as fundamental to our wellbeing as is a healthy diet and exercise. We talk about her own personal journey, and how her mission originated when she realised that being outdoors was actually an anti-depressant that was helping her recover from trauma and that being in nature had also supported her Dad and brother through mental illness. We also discuss the benefit in bringing in virtual nature into spaces. Roger Ulrich's study in the 80s proving how “views” of nature improved their wellbeing, needed less intervention, and got out of hospital sooner.
The WHO calls stress the health epidemic of the 21srt century. It is a significant health challenge and brining nature into our lives is one of the most effective ways to combat this and to lead a loving and fulfilled life. We hope you enjoy this podcast with broadcaster and entrepreneur Lara Cowan founder of The Botanic Shed.
Some key takeaways:
2.38 “I realized that nature had been my anti-depressant that helped me recover from trauma.”
3.03 “The mission is to make love of nature the world’s leading language.”
3.46 Botanic Shed is creating content (look out Lara on BBC Radio Oxford) and events that educate and inspire people to connect with nature and build resilience.
5.28 “Get close to soil... naturally produce seratonin...get back to our inner child.”
8.24 On the ‘Blue Mind’ effects of her life in the Caribbean.
11.03 “Our connection to nature is an intrinsically important to life as diet and exercise”
11.13 “In Japan you are actually prescribed time in nature (ShinrinYoku) by Doctors at the hospitals.”
11.36 “You are not just going outdoors. You are chemically reacting.. stimulating happy hormones..”
13.21 Lara’s prescription? “A non-negotiable 1-hour each day immersed in nature.”
14.24 “There are proven health benefits even to looking at fake plants.”
14.39 “We are genetically programmed to align ourselves with the beauty of nature.”
16.30 Issues that nature can help with? “Anxiety, loneliness, anger, menopause, pain.”
17.55 “Reduce your levels of stress hormones ...watch birds, go for forest walks, watch nature on the WaterBear Network.”
20.43 “Trees communicate with one another with chemicals that benefit our health.”
23.25 "On the benefits of forest walking to diabetes” (...decreases blood glucose levels).
26.40 “Indoor views of nature are hugely important in recovery processes as proven by Roger Ulrich’s study..”
30.24 “The more a home feels like it has natural elements to it … the less stress
its inhabitants exhibit.”
36.57 “There is so much out there for everyone and I wish that everyone could have a happier and better life.”
Lara is Founder of Botanic Shed find out more here and follow her on Facebook.
www.botanicshed.com Botanic Shed ‘School of Nature Retreat’ https://fb.me/e/1NVUzdybK
Listen to her on BBC Radio https://linktr.ee/botanicshed and BBC Radio Oxford Botanic Shed Series My Nature Preacher section starts: 3:21:56seconds.
Plus another podcast ‘Focus on Why’ recorded with Amy Rowlinson Retreat Venue Partner www.wasing.co.uk ; Lara is also COO at the Advanced Integrated Health Clinic, Formula Health in Berkshire.
Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.
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