Mindful photography is a form of mindfulness practice that involves being fully present and aware while taking photographs. It involves paying attention to the present moment, rather than being lost in thought or distracted by external distractions.

Explore this unique technique with five easy steps in this guide.

Post-Avatar Depression Syndrome (PADS) is not a medically recognised condition, but the symptoms include feeling disconnected from nature; worries about climate change, environmental destruction and the future of the planet; and dissatisfaction with modern life.

The first Avatar film is a modern twist on the story of indigenous cultures being in tune with and closer to nature, and also more environmentally conscious, than their Colonial conquerors. The environmental message in Avatar is one which promotes seeking harmony and balance between humans and nature. This theme is continued in the sequel – Avatar: The Way of Water, and also in James Cameron’s latest National Geographic nature series, Super/Natural.

Keeping a nature journal (or ‘nature notebook’) can help to enhance your connection with nature, record that things that you see and hear, tune into the rhythms of nature and give you a better appreciation of the changing seasons as your nature journaling progresses. It can also help you to improve your health and wellbeing and to notice things that you are grateful for in nature.

Attention Deficit Trait is a problem experienced by an increasing number of people. It can cause anxiety, irritability and problems with concentration. It is different from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) which is a neurodevelopment disorder, but is a product of modern life. It is caused by high-pressure, regular distractions,
It causes anxiety, irritability and problems with concentration.
Here we look at how Attention Restoration Theory and nature-connection activities can combat this.

In the same way that there are different colours of light, there are also said to be different ‘colours’ of sound. There has been a lot of discussion in the media recently about different kinds of noise, such as ‘Brown Noise’ and ‘Pink Noise’ and the beneficial effects of each of these different kinds of noise. For example Brown Noise has shown promising results when used with people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in enhancing their ability to focus and concentrate and others claim that Pink Noise improves memory and enhances sleep whilst others say they reduce their stress and can help them to relax.

A soundscape is defined as a sound or combination of sounds that forms or arises from an immersive environment. Immersive is used here to mean “providing, involving, or characterised by deep absorption or immersion in something (such as an activity or a real or artificial environment)”.

In Scandinavia there is a concept called ‘Friluftsliv’ (pronounced free-lufts-leav) that translates into English as ‘free air life’ or ‘open-air living’.

The term was first coined by the poet Henrik Ibsen in 1859, who used the term to describe the physical, psychological and spiritual benefits that you get from spending time in the outdoors. Today it is increasingly recognised as a way to improve mental and physical health and wellbeing, and is now used to describe being outdoors and (re)connecting with the natural landscape.

Nature provides a kaleidoscope of different colours, and you can anchor yourself in the present by mindfully focusing on these colours. Here are two mindful nature-connection activities that use colour.

The Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtuse) is a species of cypress native to central Japan. Hinoki is a slow growing tree with dark red-brown peeling bark and deep green needlesl, producing a beautiful golden coloured wood with a slightly smoky citrusy smell.

Phytoncides are the natural oils within trees and plants and are part of their defence system. The main components of phytoncides are terpenes, and these are what you can smell in the essential oils made from trees high in Phytoncides. The phytoncides in Hinoki oil have a wide range of benefits for human health, from promoting relaxation and calming the autonomic nervous system, to helping build immune system functioning.

Nature-Mindfulness activities such as Forest Bathing can increase awareness of our own thought processes, enabling us to explore and appreciate our external world through nature-connectedness. Forest Bathing practices such as Sit Spot that encourage us to set aside some time each day, or a few times a week, are a great way to build emotional regulation skills, in addition to the other inherent benefits of spending time in nature.

This post looks at ticks, tick bites, Lyme Disease and why the incidence of tick bites can increase when Oaks and other nut-bearing trees have ‘mast years’.

Large acorn crops lead to increases the deer population as they eat the acorns which are high in calories. Ticks are major ectoparasites of deer and as their populations grow, so to do the numbers of ticks that there are. As some ticks are carriers of Lyme Disease, then as the tick population increases, the incidence of Lyme Disease in humans increases.

The biggest differences between Forest Bathing and a more conventional walk in the woods are probably down to what you seek to achieve and what you do when you are there. Forest bathing is not about reaching a certain destination, such as the top of the hill, or completing a lap of the lake, it is more about reaching a relaxed state of being in which you mindfully notice what is happening around you using your different senses.

‘Forest Bathing’ is a nature-connection practice that almost everyone can take part in, that will benefit your physical, emotional and cognitive functioning. It is increasingly recognised as a preventative approach to healthcare - a kind of ‘forest medicine’ that utilises the restorative power of trees and nature to improve health and wellbeing.

A recent study has reported that Smartphone use has increased greatly at a time when concerns about society’s disconnection from nature have also markedly increased. A different study has reported that it was not Smartphone use itself that was the issue in terms of reduced connection with nature, so much as what you did with your Smartphone and more importantly, what you pointed the camera at.

Experiencing awe involves two components, vastness and transcendence. Vastness happens when we see something like a spectacular view or sunset or are exposed to a concept such as the the infinite size of the universe that is too incredible to fit into our current worldview, forcing us to expand our understanding of what is possible. Transcendence happens when we take in this new, awe-inspiring experience and try to make sense of it.

We hosted the Inaugural Scottish Tree Hugging Championships, on Friday 22nd July at Ardtornish as part of the Morvern Games Week. The winner was Alasdair Firth (pictured), who lives locally on a woodland croft.

This event was run in association with the World Tree Hugging Championships held annually in the HaliPuu Forest in Levi, Lapland, Finland.