Find out why showing our world a little love can do wonders for your mental health and well-being…
Doing your bit for Mother Nature really can boost your mental health and well-being in so many ways. There are lots of activities or simple changes you can make to do your bit for the environment. It’s also a great opportunity to:
- Spend more time outdoors
- Meet new people and make new connections
- Boost confidence and self-esteem
- Feel proud of your achievements
- De-stress and relax
This World Environment Day (June 5) is the perfect time to join the #GenerationRestoration. Together, we can do our bit to clean up the world around us and heal nature. We can make a big difference when we work together – discover three ways YOU can help to heal the planet…
PLANT POWER
Planting a tree can help combat climate change. If you have space in your garden, why not plant a tree of your own? You can find lots of advice on which trees are best suited for UK gardens here.
If planting a tree isn’t an option, you can always donate online to have a tree planted in a forest for you. The National Forest even lets you choose which type of tree you’d like them to plant!
You could also volunteer at a local community garden to help plant and preserve a mini-ecosystem in your own area. Even if you don’t have a garden at home, you can plant a mini garden in windowsill boxes or fill planters and pots on your balcony – click here for lots of great ideas!
LITTER HEROES
Litter isn’t just an eyesore – it’s incredibly damaging to plant and animal life, too. You could organise a litter pick one weekend and ask your friends to help or join a local litter-picking group to lend a hand. Your local park is a good place to start, or you may know of another area that’s in desperate need of a good clean-up. You can also ask your local community to point you in the direction of badly-littered areas – social media is a great tool for reaching out to local residents. And, who knows, they may even offer a helping hand!
Check out Keep Britain Tidy for lots of great advice and tips on organising a litter pick and how to take part.
Water Warriors
There’s nothing more depressing than seeing plastic and rubbish floating in our rivers, lakes and seas. Plastic pollution is a grave threat to our wildlife and environment, but we can do our bit to help out.
Take a few rubbish sacks and head to your nearest waterway to pick up and remove any rubbish you find – don’t forget to wear gloves and steer clear of any medical waste. If you do find medical waste, report it to your local council who will arrange to dispose of it safely. Also, it’s very important to be very careful of tides and to stay safes when you’re near water.
Speaking of water, you can play a big part in helping the environment by swerving single-use plastic water bottles and using a reusable drinking bottle instead. You can also waste less water by:
- Collecting rainwater in a bucket for watering your thirsty plants
- Always turning off the tap while shaving or cleaning your teeth
For more ideas and information, click here.
