This week is mental health awareness week and the theme this time is nature. Being close to nature has long been known to have beneficial effects on our well-being.

It can lift your mood, alleviate depression and reduce feelings of loneliness. Given the fact that so much of the last year has been spent in lockdown and without our normal social contacts these things are more important than ever.

In this part of the world we are obviously lucky to live close to so many of nature’s wonders. The sea is only a stone’s throw away and we are never far from a field full of sheep or cows or a forest path either.

Despite this though, it’s surprising how easy it can be to start taking nature for granted and forgetting what an important resource it is. For those of us who spend a lot of time indoors or have an office based job, it can be a really good idea to make a conscious ‘date with nature’.

There are countless ways to do this, from a gentle stroll in the park, to a hike over rugged forest terrain to a bike ride – or wild swimming in a lake or in the sea. You can connect with nature in your own garden or allotment or even by looking out the window at the birds outside. The important thing is to make a conscious effort to notice the natural world all around us.

Another tip is to being nature into your own home. This can be in the form of potted plants but you can also take pictures of trees, animals or natural scenery so that they are readily visible to you as a reminder of nature when you are indoors. Pictures such as these have also been shown to have a positive effect on our mood and general sense of well-being.

Last year I was lucky enough to be on a course about the use of nature as a therapeutic tool in mental health recovery. On one of our practical days we went on a long forest walk and were encouraged to bring back something small as a memento of the outing.

This was something as simple as a leaf, a pebble or a pine cone – but the point was to have a reminder of the walk once we were back in our normal environments. These items could also then be used as the basis of something creative such as a collage or painting which is another way of bringing nature back into our homes.

Sometimes, when you are faced with problems or a situation that feels overwhelming, a reminder from the natural world can also be a reminder of the fact that we are not alone in life, but part of something much bigger and majestic than we ourselves are. Many years ago when I was going through a particularly difficult time, someone wise told me to go outside and feel the rain on my skin.

‘It will feel healing’ he said to me. And he was right. Deliberately going out in the rain and turning my face to the sky just to feel the drops fall has been something I have done many times since.

The Mental Health Foundation this week is challenging us all to think about nature and encouraging us to experience it, share it and talk about it. Why not set yourself a date with nature this week and then pass on what you did by sharing your experiences with others?

Here in Devon we are surrounded by some of the most beautiful nature in the country. It’s right there on our doorsteps – let’s not forget to notice it and benefit from all it has to offer!