Zoning Into Nature

I woke up this morning with an urge to be outside, there is always a list of reasons to stay in, but sometimes you have to take the first step and head out.  I am lucky I have the New Forest (UK) local to me and a quick 30 min drive to Burley and I was out.  My plan was to use a tracking tool called sit spotting, to see what animals I could see.  I found a convenient hill out of the way of the dogwalkers and cyclists and set up a quick tarp for a little shower protection. 

The idea of sit spotting is exactly as it sounds, find somewhere comfortable, with a good view and a pair of binoculars is always handy and sit down.  Take some time to listen to what’s about you and zone into your surroundings.   In my case a lot of bird song, as they got used to me being there and the odd Pheasant making its call.  Once you have zoned into the area, you start to notice other things more deeply then if you were just walking by, the noise of the wind in the trees or even a passing aeroplane seems more vibrant when you are actively listening. 

Over a couple of hours and a Cornish Pasty , I saw a number of Roe Deer, many wild ponies scattered across the landscape, they seemed quite chilled with my presence and at least one Buzzard circling the skies, which I watched intently as it rose on the wind to a point where it disappeared from view, behind low cloud.  I saw it again later and assumed it was the same one regally flying overhead, watching me watching it.

There is a lot of research on the subject of improving your mental wellbeing by being out in nature.  In my case I certainly felt the benefits of being outside and connecting with my surroundings, finally I had to leave to get on with the list of tasks I escaped from earlier, but with a sense of gratitude that lasted throughout the day. 

#NewForest, #Tracking, #Bushcraft, #SitSpotting, #Nature,