10th - 16th of May 2021 is Mental Health Awareness week....

This year's theme is Nature.

In the words of "Last Child In The Woods" Author, Richard Louv; "Reconnection to the natural world is fundamental to human health, well-being, spirit and survival".

To celebrate Nature and promote well-being, explorers this week have been hugging trees and "earthing". Hugging a tree increases levels of the hormone oxytocin. This hormone is responsible for feeling calm and emotional bonding. When Hugging a tree, the hormones serotonin and dopamine make you feel happier. Another word for this health boosting awesomeness is "ecowellness", you can also get similar benefits from "earthing" (walking barefoot).

Not only is spending time in nature known to increase overall health and well-being, grabbing a tree for a hug is more important than ever right now. Humans are social creatures and we need contact and intimacy to feel "whole", but at the moment hugging is the opposite of social distancing, in fact it's still not enthusiastically recommended because of the pandemic. But hugging a tree is a great substitude.

"The dirtier the feet, the happier the heart..." - unknown

Earthing (also known as grounding) involves heading outside barefoot and letting your skin connect with the Earth beneath you. Whether you wriggle your toes in soft sand or take a stroll across a field barefoot, it enables you to reconnect to Mother Nature in the simplest way.

There's scientific evidence, albeit a small amount, to suggest the benefits of earthing for mind and body are very real - but if anything it feels good!

So go get your dose of Vitamin Tree, wriggle your toes in the earth, stay socially distanced and hug a tree!