The burst of spring in all its fertile glory is upon us and there is no better place to be than the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park. A beautiful oasis of colour in the middle of London's 2500 acre parkland and it is a joy to walk around.
What brings people to the park is the sheer stunning explosion of flowers in spring - white, pink, purple, yellow and red, the vibrant blossom is as though nature is celebrating a fairy-tale wedding.
The park is perfectly designed to feel natural and wild. The gentle winding pathways take you through the woodlands, where huge bushes and trees stand heavy with flowers. Look up and you can see towering trees with bright green leaves creating an enjoyable cooling effect. As you enter the gate the sweet fragrant smell of honey suckle perfumes the air and the floor is covered in pretty bluebells.
The best time to explore the park is early morning, that special magical time when the sun is shining and the air is still cold underneath the shaded trees and the world seems like it is sparkling. The birds are singing from trees with all their might and you can spot nests that have tiny cries from chicks demanding more food. The air is busy with buzzing insects and huge bumblebees literally covered in the plentiful pollen dust, kiss the flowers. There are few moments that you can feel so relaxed, tranquil and at peace.
It is almost as if nature is good for our souls, making us happy and giving us hope. There have in fact been many studies showing how important nature is to our well-being. Tony Juniper sited the Pennsylvania hospital study (1972-1981) which showed that even a simple window view of woodlands can speed recovery times for hospital patients. And we should also remind ourselves to spend more time with nature and make it part of our daily lives.
And in London, this busy man-made metropolis, home to 8 million, it often feels like the city has made space alongside its buildings and busy roads for wild spots. Everyone has their own favourite area whether it is the Isabella Plantation, Kew Gardens and Cannizaro Park in Wimbledon or walking through the wetlands in Morden Park, there are many natural beauty spots to enjoy. And that is what cities of the future must have - space for nature for its own value and for our own well-being too.
The modern city, a home to people, spiders, beetles, frogs, birds, hedgehogs, bees...
More than anything, the park is perfect for children where they are free to run, jump, roll, scramble and learn about the world. In fact, taking a walk in the park is the perfect place to make learning fun. When you have small children, everything is new and exciting. Even learning to blow dandelions is a new skill - the act of pursing your lips and blowing is surprisingly tricky for two year olds. Finding a fallen tree is great for practicing balancing. Children can learn about everything from colours, seasons, animals and transport. Because everything is a first - the first time you touch snow, or watch a ladybird crawl over your fingers or see a feather float in the wind, it is all fascinating for a child to discover and it helps you appreciate nature again. And who can forget the fun of jumping in puddles...every puddle!
If you think back to your favourite childhood moments, your happy memories are often about the time you spent outdoors in natural settings. I loved building my den with friends at the bottom of our garden, or spending endless summers exploring rock pools and finding crabs on the beach in Dumfries in Scotland and swimming in ridiculously cold rivers. We should continue to encourage time spent with nature, so that it in instils a love of the wild in our own children, which stays with them forever.
Walking through the Isabella garden has reminded me of what a joyful experience it is to be close to nature for young and old alike. And spring is one of the most vibrant and fertile seasons where nature seems like it is simply celebrating it is own beauty. How can a bee resist!
