“Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun.”
This is an extract from the “To Autumn” poem written by English romantic poet John Keats and it was published in 1820. Perhaps you remember it from your school days? But the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” is definitely upon us now as the leaves are changing to the kaleidoscope of beautiful Autumnal colours, temperatures are getting cooler and the coffee shops are promoting their pumpkin spice lattes. Is it therefore a time to hibernate or get out and about to embrace the changing season?
“Hibernation is defined as the condition of passing the winter in a resting state of deep sleep, during which metabolic rate and body temperature drops considerably.”
The Open University
Mammals who hibernate include bats, hedgehogs and squirrels as well as some species of tortoise. As a child, I remember watching the Blue Peter team of John Noakes and Peter Purves putting Freda the tortoise into a cardboard box with straw, some lettuce leaves and a dish of water in order to hibernate for the winter!
Please note that humans are not on the list of hibernating mammals! While it is tempting in October to snuggle under our duvet for an extra hour and indulge in consuming copious amounts of apple crumble and custard, should we spend Autumn enjoying the beautiful colours of nature and taking some exercise?
This morning, I headed to Hillsborough Forest for a short 20 minute walk. I can’t walk as far as previously due to my back problems nevertheless it was a great chance to admire the changing colour of the leaves and get some fresh air. Afterwards, I had a great sense of achievement but I also felt calmer and more relaxed.
According to Professor Ming Kuo from the University of Illinois, being outdoors for as little as 20 minutes can trigger measurable changes inside your body from lowering stress hormones, easing blood pressure and even improving your gut health. Perhaps the Victorians with their concept of a “constitutional walk” weren’t so wrong after all.
Even though the days are getting shorter, colder and wetter than in the summer, take time to get outdoors every day for 20 minutes. Ideally in a forest where you can smell the pine needles and hear the crunch of leaves under your feet ie a “green walk”. “Blue walks” are good too where you walk at the coast, beside a river or lake.
Perhaps you are not able to walk too far but you can wrap up warmly in your padded coat, woolly scarf and boots to spend a little time sitting in nature every day. The key thing is NOT to hibernate and to get out of the house. Your body and mind will thank you for making the effort.
Lynda
The Author
Lynda Willis lives in Co Armagh and writes blogs about her rambles in nature as well as rambling about topics close to her heart. This year, she is fundraising for Breast Cancer Now so please click here if you’d like to donate.
