Professor Michelle Howarth
(Health and Social Care; Associate Director of CSR)
The first signs of spring are in the air after a long winter where we have inevitably found ourselves navigating stormy weather, short days, and the quiet stillness of long, dark nights. The 19th of January brought with it the now‑familiar notion of “Blue Monday”, commonly labelled the gloomiest day of the year. Whether or not the science behind Blue Monday stands up to scrutiny, what is clear is that many of us feel the emotional weight of winter more acutely during this time.
In response, we decided to do what humans have instinctively done for millennia: seek solace in nature. And so, we hosted a Dose of Nature walk across the beautiful Edge Hill University campus. A wonderfully diverse group joined us including academic colleagues, gardeners, students, and professional services staff. Together, we walked, talked, shared stories, inhaled the wintry air, and, with some luck, managed to avoid the rain. For many, it was a rare moment of quiet connection and gentle restoration amid the rush of a busy semester.
This outcome is hardly surprising. Within the Centre for Social Responsibility (CSR), an ongoing theme of our research explores the relationship between nature and wellbeing. Decades of scholarship have reinforced a simple but powerful truth: nature is good for us.
From the early foundations of the Biophilia Hypothesis, which suggests humans possess an innate affinity for natural environments, through to contemporary evaluations of nature‑based interventions, the evidence remains remarkably consistent. Even brief exposure such as a view from a window, a moment with a houseplant, or a short walk outdoors can boost mood, reduce stress, and enhance cognitive functioning. Increasingly, research teams including members of our own CSR and the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) Green Social Prescribing supports long-term conditions: new evidence review | NASP are demonstrating that nature offers forms of restoration that pills and quick fixes alone cannot reach Reports – GMnatureforhealth
In other words, a “dose of nature” does exactly what it promises.
So, as the grey weather continues, don’t let it dampen your spirits. Whether you are walking through woodland, noticing a bird outside your window, or simply stepping into fresh air between meetings, or checking out our new labyrinth on campus, take your dose of nature wherever you can find it. Sometimes, even the smallest encounter with the natural world is enough to remind us that brighter days literally and figuratively are ahead.
Join us for our next Dose of Nature walk on 26th March – National Social Prescribing Day – when Spring will truly be in the air.