The Summer holidays are ending and we are packing away the camping gear and getting the school bags ready, though we'll still be heading outdoors whenever we can.
The National Trust have made a list of 50 things to do before you're 11 and three quarters. After this Summer our sons are well on the way to checking them off. The list starts with climbing a tree, camping in the wild and making wild art, includes catching a crab, star gazing, building a den and finishes with learning to ride a horse and canoeing down a river. The list is an inspiring reminder of the importance for all of us to make time to explore and adventure outdoors. Research from UCLA has shown that exercise enhances neuroplasticity by stimulating growth of new connections between cells in important cortical areas of the brain.
Being in nature inspires a sense of wonder and eases the stresses of our busy daily lives. I'd like to make going on a walk barefoot my next item to check off, even though I'm a bit older than eleven and three quarters.
Una