Woodland Trust calls on Derry public to connect with nature this Spring for your own good

The sights, sounds and smells of life in our local woodlands have been proven to fill us with joy and boost our wellbeing, groundbreaking new research has revealed.

An overwhelming 90% of more than 10,000 questioned in an extensive study, (BIO-WELL) supported by the Woodland Trust, said their mood and general wellbeing were boosted by the wildlife in native woodland. The BIO-WELL research identified specific mood-lifting traits found in woods such as spotting squirrels, hearing a robin sing or witnessing spring flowers bloom.

Woodland sounds, such as birds singing, the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot or trees rustling in the breeze, were found to stimulate the most wellbeing responses. Natural processes and behaviours, like spring flowers emerging, triggered the second most wellbeing responses. Areas with a higher proportion of woodland, especially ancient and long-established woodland cover are rich in the variety of woodland plants, animals and fungi which people reported as being beneficial for their wellbeing.

Zoe Davies, Professor of Biodiversity conservation at the University of Kent’s Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), said: “While we know that spending time in natural environments can improve our health and wellbeing, we needed to know which species, or traits of species delivered these benefits.”

The Woodland Trust’s Lynsey Nixon, Communications Manager said: “Some of the best places to see ancient woodland in Northern Ireland are in the Faughan Valley near Claudy and Mourne Park, outside Kilkeel.

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With brighter evenings on the way, spring flowers starting to bloom and wildlife wakening up after the dark damp winter, now is a great time to get out and explore your local wood. We’ve planned some great activities to get you out in our woods this spring!”

Some spring highlights for your diary include:

Faughan Valley Woodlands – Walk the trails through connected woods along the River Faughan. Explore each wood in the Faughan Valley Woodlands to take in their special features, including species rich ancient woodland, and sculpture trails.

Bluebells - With the emergence of spring flowers cited as triggering the second highest wellbeing response, visiting our estate in April to May when bluebells begin to bloom is one of the most pleasing and visual treats our native woodlands provide. You can see Bluebells in bloom at Mourne Park, on our bespoke Bluebell trail, in Cabin Wood near Cookstown, at Drumnaph Wood in Maghera or in Red Brae in the Faughan Valley.

Find a wood near you this spring: www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/northern-ireland