Tag Archives: biophilia

If you think you know trees, think again!

Thirteen Ways to Smell a Tree: A celebration of our connection with trees is a small, easy-to-read non-fiction book packed with facts and insights – both historical and modern-day. The author, David George Haskell, took me around the world to get up close and personal with some of the world’s most marvellous trees, including oneContinue reading “If you think you know trees, think again!”

On top of the world

Brown Clee is the highest hill in Shropshire, standing at 540 metres. On the first day of our holiday, we (my husband, daughter and I) set off to the top from our Air BNB because a previous guest mentioned it was a nice thing to do. There was an OS map on the wall, soContinue reading “On top of the world”

Hanging out with the olive elders

I’ve just spent a glorious week in Puglia, Italy for my Dad’s 70th birthday. Like so many things this holiday has been delayed by Covid and at one point I began to wonder whether all the extra travel admin was really worth it. It turns out it was, although I probably wouldn’t travel abroad forContinue reading “Hanging out with the olive elders”

How to deal with FND (or unexplained medical symptoms)

In 2009 I was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND). The symptoms, including severe and uncontrolled twitching and spasms, came from the body not functioning because of faulty brain signals. There were no structural changes to be seen on a scan. I had a diagnosis, but whilst I now had a name for it, theContinue reading “How to deal with FND (or unexplained medical symptoms)”

Bigging up bulbs

I don’t believe in leaving things to chance. Luck doesn’t find me, I go out and find opportunities. And, in the same way, I engineer small wonders of nature in my garden. By small wonders, I mean anything nature does which makes me smile. It’s normally something that tickles the senses. Colour, scent, texture –Continue reading “Bigging up bulbs”

Why does nature make us happy?

Here’s a bit of (light) science. I think it helps to know that what you are doing to improve your life, however small, will make a difference. Believing something will make a positive difference is very powerful. So here goes… A study by Lyubomirsky* showed that 50% of your happiness is genetic. Your environment makesContinue reading “Why does nature make us happy?”

Happy Houseplants

I love having plants around me at home. They make me happy. And apparently, we all have “the urge to affiliate with other forms of life.”  The is called biophilia, a term popularised by biologist Edward Wilson in 1984. There is a wonderful book all about it by Sally Coultard, which is well worth aContinue reading “Happy Houseplants”