Life

Tony Bailie's Take on Nature: First stirrings of new life waiting to spring forth

Regular exercise such as walking can offer important health and wellbeing benefits
Regular exercise such as walking can offer important health and wellbeing benefits Regular exercise such as walking can offer important health and wellbeing benefits

LOOK closely at the hedgerows and you will see the first stirrings of new life waiting to spring forth. The stripped branches of trees are also starting to show signs of revival, with just the hint of slowly growing buds that in a few weeks' time will burst open and spill out this year’s foliage.

It is a liminal time of year, when things are stirring below the surface but are not quite ready to break out. Our woodlands, decimated by centuries of human activity, have in recent years undergone a revival and it is heartening to see copses of trees and larger stretches of forest now growing again in what were once fields and bare hillsides and even in our towns and cities.

The Woodland Trust in Northern Ireland is marking a milestone with 98 per cent of its woodlands coming of age this year.

It has established 50 woodland sites across the north through the Woods on your Doorstep project which began in 2000 with the aim of developing woodland in mainly urban areas.

Woodland Trust Northern Ireland director Ian McCurley said: “Who better to have as your neighbour than the tree next door? Trees are brilliant – they help clean air, store carbon, clean our rivers and provide havens for wildlife. We would love to hear from you if you remember the woodland in its infancy or remember the area before trees were planted.”

To get in touch with Woodland Trust Northern Ireland about your story, email WTNI@woodlandtrust.org.uk or phone 028 9127 5787.

Meanwhile, a new website has been launched to encourage more people to up their daily steps on the back of new research which claims that walking is a “a miracle cure for many serious health conditions”.

Citing research by the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges, WalkNI says that regular exercise such as walking can offer important health and wellbeing benefits including prevention of dementia, type-2 diabetes, some cancers, heart disease and the risk of other serious condition by at least 30 per cent.

The Mental Health Foundation has also found that taking some simple steps as part of your regular exercise each week enhances wellbeing, lowering the risk of depression by 20-30 per cent. Yet, only seven in 10 adults living in Northern Ireland take part in regular outdoor recreation every week, while more than half of those aged 75 and over said they never walk for more than 15 minutes continuously.

Developed by Outdoor Recreation NI, the site aims to encourage more people to walk and, for those who are already active, to inspire them to try new places and routes.

With more than 700 walking routes, from leisurely strolls to vigorous treks, the site focuses on making walking easier, with routes mapped out on bespoke interactive maps, hints and advice, parking details and tips on what to wear and where to eat nearby.

Jayne Woodrow, who manages WalkNI said: “We know that people here love walking and so have created the WalkNI website as an easy platform for people to access walks at the touch of a button. The website, supported by NIEA and six councils is bursting with walks, from short strolls through enchanting gardens to more challenging long-distance trails such as the Ulster Way – it is a one-stop hub for all walking here in Northern Ireland.

“The website is a valuable tool for existing walkers here. However, with a recent survey highlighting that over 28 per cent of population in NI did not walk on any occasion for more than 15 minutes, and the older we get, the less we walk, it is also aimed at encouraging people to walk and be more active.”

:: Visit the site at WalkNi.com