I was born in Belfast, N. Ireland and grew up in a working-class part of the city. There were no “green spaces” to play in or explore – our street was one of many, each comprising two rows of small houses separated by the narrow street.
Belfast is situated at the end of an estuary called Belfast Lough which opens out to the Irish Sea. From the waterfront, the city gently ascends into the surrounding hills. From the end of my street I could look up at the hills and admire their grandeur. It was a view I never tired of, and it was a view that always brightened my day and gave me an emotional lift if I was feeling a bit “low”.
On weekends and during the summer, my friends and I would hop on a city bus and head up into those hills. We would then hike on a rough trail up to the summit, running and playing. From the top, we had a panoramic view of the city and could watch the ferries departing for Scotland and England. Looking to the north, it was possible to see “Slemish Mountain,” an ancient volcanic “plug” where St. Patrick was said to have spent his captivity tending sheep. To the south, we could make out the outline of the Mourne Mountains, 25 miles away, where it is said that C.S. Lewis, who also spent his childhood in Belfast, got the inspiration for the magical kingdom of Narnia (“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”).
For me, the Belfast hills were my own magical kingdom. I loved being in nature, abandoning the grimy city for the wide-open spaces. When I return to visit family in Belfast I always try to set aside a day to enjoy another walk in the hills or a long walk in the Mourne Mountains or one of the many other scenic areas on the island of Ireland.
It is sometimes called the “Nature Cure”. The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) encourages doctors to write “nature prescriptions” for their patients. It is not just the benefits of “exercise” that can improve our health but taking time to commit to being a part of the natural world can bring enhanced mental health well-being too. In fact it is essential “medicine” for the vast majority of the 8 billion people on Earth - those who now live in urban areas.
Since arriving in Sarnia 50 years ago, my wife Dorothy and I discovered many ways to benefit from the Nature Cure. Walking through Canatara Park, along the Howard Watson Trail, or hiking the trails in our Provincial Parks and conservation areas as well as the Bruce Trail can make any day a special day. When our children were younger, camping at the Pinery, exploring the forest, and swimming in Lake Huron also exposed them to the Nature Cure.
So consider writing yourself a prescription for your own Nature Cure. Fall in love with the natural world for everything is connected and we need to take care of it. In return, it will take care of us. Protecting natural areas is essential for maintaining Nature’s biodiversity. In return, Nature removes some of the excess atmospheric carbon dioxide generated by our vehicles, industry, and other sources – emissions that are driving up temperatures all across the planet and changing the climate. Planet Earth desperately needs our help to restore its health and in the process it will protect ours too.