{"id":163835,"date":"2000-10-22T14:59:26","date_gmt":"2000-10-22T21:59:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=163835"},"modified":"2020-10-20T16:49:49","modified_gmt":"2020-10-20T23:49:49","slug":"nature-is-waiting-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/nature-is-waiting-for-you","title":{"rendered":"Nature is Waiting For You"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s note: This article is a part of the Heritage content series<\/a>, sponsored by Fj\u00e4llr\u00e4ven. The article was originally published on the\u00a0Fj\u00e4llr\u00e4ven blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Dappled light dances under your feet, mirroring the rhythmic rustling of the leaves overhead. Your heart rate slows. Your breath deepens. A smile creeps across your face. You can\u2019t remember what was on your to-do list. The irritation after a no-progress meeting fades into oblivion. Worrying about this, that and everything in between seems immaterial. Just 10 minutes ago you were slamming the door in frustration. Now you\u2019re in your happy place. That place is nature. It needn\u2019t be on the other side of the world or a day\u2019s drive away. It can be a tree-lined street on the way home from work, the park by your child\u2019s school or the nature reserve that\u2019s just outside the city boundary. Spending time in nature is good for us and it needn\u2019t require Herculean effort to accomplish.<\/p>\n

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From the creation of the first nature reserves, city parks and the days of well-to-do aristocracy heading off to the countryside to \u201ctake the air\u201d, we\u2019ve known for years that spending time in nature is good for our health. Way back in 1865, famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted \u2013 who designed\u00a0New York\u2019s Central Park \u2013 wrote:<\/p>\n

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It is a scientific fact that the occasional contemplation of natural scenes of an impressive character is favourable to the health and vigour of men and especially to the health and vigour of their intellect.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Despite his statement to the contrary, there weren\u2019t actually any \u201cscientific fact(s)\u201d proving the benefits of nature to human health at that time (it was more just a general feeling or innate knowledge). But now, more than 150 years later, there are. Studies conducted everywhere from\u00a0Japan to Finland, the US and the UK\u00a0have shown the benefits of nature to be manifold and multifaceted. They range from the physical to the mental to the societal. It\u2019s not really known why, but the correlation between human health and well-being and time spent in nature is overwhelmingly positive.<\/p>\n

It’s good for our bodies<\/h4>\n

Often when we think of nature, at least nowadays, it\u2019s not just about being there. It\u2019s usually about doing something there. So the fact that people with access to nature \u2013 be it urban parks or rural trails \u2013 are less likely to be obese or overweight shouldn\u2019t come as much of a surprise. But according to theInstitute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), the benefits actually extend further than a reduction in people\u2019s waistlines. It cites results such as lower blood pressure in pregnant woman, a 16% lower risk of dying for men living in deprived areas closer to green space, and higher birth weights and larger head circumferences in babies born in places with abundant green areas, as evidence for the benefits of living close to nature.<\/p>\n

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And for our minds<\/h4>\n

While the physical benefits are tangible and easily seen, the mental ones are more nuanced though no less apparent. Doctors have believed in the mental healing of nature since the 19th<\/sup>\u00a0century. Back then it was fashionable for doctors, particularly those practising psychiatry, to recommend a week breathing the fresh air of the\u00a0Swiss Alps, coastal Dorset or rural\u00a0New England. Now doctors don\u2019t necessarily prescribe an expensive week away rubbing shoulders with\u00a0Swiss<\/em> skiers or Dorset fishermen, but they do encourage patients to spend more time outdoors.\u00a0UK\u00a0charity Mind has been using what it calls Ecotherapy to help improve patients mental health for several years. The practice involves patients spending time \u201cconnecting\u201d to nature, mostly through supervised group sessions combined with cognitive behavioural therapy. Activities range from conservation projects to simply walking through nature together, discussing the landscape and flora and fauna. It works in a similar manner to Japan\u2019s \u201cforest bathing\u201d or exercising along\u00a0Finland\u2019s \u201cpower trails\u201d. Patients consistently report a reduction in feelings of depression, anxiety, anger and stress and improvements in self-esteem and emotional resilience. The IEEP highlights a study conducted by Alnarp Rehabilitation Garden in southern\u00a0Sweden<\/em>. It tested a nature-based treatment for people recovering from stress-related mental disorders, stroke and war neuroses. After just one year of rehabilitation the effects were clear: an improvement in well-being, reduced stress and increased positivity. There were also knock-on effects that were more wide-reaching: the costs for primary care dropped by 28% and days spent in hospital fell by 64%.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s even good for society<\/h4>\n

These broader societal benefits are now being studied. And they don\u2019t just include reduced medical bills and health care costs. According to\u00a0Patrick Ten Brink, the director of the Institute for European Environmental Policy, \u201cgiving communities an active right to nature will improve health, social integration and be a major step to reducing social and health inequalities\u201d. Research conducted by the IEEP, on behalf of Friends of the Earth Europe, highlights that access to nature and shared green spaces can lead to increased social cohesion and reduced social tension. It gives people a shared sense of place and identity, which goes beyond racial, ethical and socio-economic boundaries.<\/p>\n

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What\u2019s the catch?<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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This all sounds very utopian: the answer to all our problems is right there outside the window. We just have to get out there. But it\u2019s not that simple. 70% of the world\u2019s population will be urban by 2050. Europe has already surpassed this threshold with a full 80% predicted to live in cities by 2020. As open areas are eaten up by housing, finding space for nature that\u2019s close to home is proving more difficult. Seeing as all the benefits of living near to nature only kick in when the distance from green space is less than 300m \u2013 with the benefits dropping off once you cross the 1km mark \u2013 urban planners are faced with some pretty monumental challenges. How do you provide easily-accessible nature to growing urban populations? Cities are already sprawling into each other. With the pressure to build as close as possible to a city\u2019s CBD and reduce the distance people have to commute by car, a catch 22 conundrum presents itself.<\/p>\n

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According to human geographer and author Dr.\u00a0Klas Sandell, the solution is sustainable development. The United Nations defines this as development that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs”. This requires society to look more holistically at development. \u201cWe need to find a way to live, work and thrive with nature,\u201d explains Klas. \u201cProtecting nature is just the first step.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Sweden (and Norway and\u00a0Finland, for that matter) sets a very good example. The Right of Public Access \u2013\u00a0allemansr\u00e4tten\u00a0in\u00a0Swedish\u00a0\u2013 has helped shape\u00a0S<\/em>wedish people\u2019s views of nature. \u201cHere nature isn\u2019t so much of a \u2018wilderness\u2019, as in it\u2019s far away. It\u2019s more about general outdoor recreation and encounters in a natural landscape,\u201d says Klas. \u201cIt\u2019s about simplicity in terms of equipment and activities \u2013 a stroll in the forest instead of an expedition in the wilderness. And it\u2019s about freedom of choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

This idea about keeping things simple seems to reflect the science. The research suggests that frequent visits to nature \u2013 however small \u2013 and living close to green areas are more beneficial in the long term than infrequent expeditions in the wilderness. Some cities in Europe are already implementing strategies to ensure their residents live no more than 300m from green areas, Oslo in Norway and Victoria-Gasteiz in Spain are two examples. \u201cThe evidence is strong and growing that people and communities can only thrive when they have access to nature,\u201d explains Robbie Blake, nature campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe. \u201cWe all need nature in our lives. It gives us freedom and helps us live healthily.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The more, the merrier<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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There\u2019s proof that once you start a love affair with nature, it\u2019ll never end. In fact, your love and appreciation of it will thrive. Research has shown there\u2019s a positive correlation with the amount of time we spend in nature and our willingness to protect and preserve it (and spend even more time in its embrace). A month-long study in the UK by the Wildlife Trust and Derby University, called 30 Days Wild, found that not only did regular activity in nature increase the number of people reporting their health as \u201cexcellent\u201d by 30%, it also showed that people are more likely to care for their local environment and value its positive impact and thus protect it.<\/p>\n

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Balancing the scales<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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But in comes that catch 22 situation again. If we all spend more time in nature, which in turn makes us want to protect it, how do we manage the growth of the world\u2019s population and the migration into cities?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s about balance,\u201d says\u00a0Klas. \u201cWe know that sustainable development relies upon public acceptance of changes in consumption and lifestyle. If we establish multipurpose land use where forestry, infrastructure, agriculture and dwellings are combined with leisure, conservation and education, it\u2019s reasonable to believe that this could form a more solid basis for a sustainable development; it\u2019s a better basis than a view of nature as something located at special places, sometimes visited but only for aesthetics and adventure \u2013\u00a0not as a crucial basis for all aspects of human living.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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So what can we do?<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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How often do you step out in nature? Daily? Weekly? Finland now recommends five hours of nature time per month, divided up into short, regular visits. Researchers there found that a change in mood and attention span can happen in just 40 minutes. The 30 Days Wild challenge in the UK found it\u2019s not just about the time you spend in nature, but what you do there: touching the bark of a tree, watching bees buzzing around their hive, dipping your toes in a lake, sharing the experience with others. This is why both with Mind\u2019s Ecotherapy and along\u00a0Finland\u2019s Power Trails people are encouraged to interact with nature to get the most out of it. And frequent short stints in nature like this are more likely to encourage longer, more immersive and rewarding escapes into the great outdoors. This creates feedback loops which spill over from the individual and benefit society as a whole.<\/p>\n

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When we launched Fj\u00e4llr\u00e4ven Classic in Sweden in 2005 the aim was to encourage more people to trek in the Swedish mountains. But it has become so much more than that. As more people joined us, we realized that Fj\u00e4lllr\u00e4ven Classic was about inspiring people to spend more time in nature generally. By training for the trek they would walk through their local nature reserves and parks. They would cajole their friends and family into joining their adventures. And eventually they motivated us to expand Fj\u00e4llr\u00e4ven Classic to Denmark, the US and\u00a0Hong Kong. What started as a low-key wilderness experience for people already pretty used to time outdoors, has become the kick-starter to spending more time in nature for everyone. \u201cI\u2019m passionate about inspiring others to experience nature,\u201d says\u00a0Carl H\u00e5rd Af Segerstad, Fj\u00e4llr\u00e4ven Classic event manager. \u201cGetting out in nature has so many positive associations on both an individual and societal level. It\u2019s good to do physical exercise of course, but it also shows you what\u2019s important in life. I believe it\u2019s vital to experience nature first hand because you can\u2019t care for and protect something you\u2019ve never experienced.\u201d<\/p>\n

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We\u2019d love you to join us for\u00a0Fj\u00e4llr\u00e4ven Classic,\u00a0of course, but you don\u2019t need to do a multi-day trek to begin your journey into nature. As the research shows, just 40 minutes in nature can bring welcome benefits. All you need to do is open the door and walk out. Nature will do the rest.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s note: This article is a part of the Heritage content series, sponsored by Fj\u00e4llr\u00e4ven. The article was originally published on the\u00a0Fj\u00e4llr\u00e4ven blog. Dappled light dances under your feet, mirroring the rhythmic rustling of the leaves overhead. Your heart rate slows. Your breath deepens. A smile creeps across your face. You can\u2019t remember what was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":163836,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[387],"tags":[],"internal-tag":[2117],"class_list":["post-163835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hike","internal-tag-fjallraven-brand-landing-page"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/hike\/nature-is-waiting-for-you","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Nature is Waiting For You","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/nature-is-waiting-for-you","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/nature-is-waiting-for-you"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/10\/fjallraven_ss19_DSC9288.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/10\/fjallraven_ss19_DSC9288.jpg?fit=8256%2C5504"},"articleSection":"Hike","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Chelsea Davis"}],"creator":["Chelsea Davis"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2000-10-22T21:59:26Z","datePublished":"2000-10-22T21:59:26Z","dateModified":"2020-10-20T23:49:49Z"},"rendered":"