Mindfulness
Rebalance and reconnect
Who wouldn’t like to be more mindful – living in the moment and enjoying a slower, more holistic approach to life? The benefits of mindfulness are gathering more and more scientific backing and, it seems, there’s nowhere better to embrace it than in the great outdoors. So, if you feel you’ve become disconnected from the things that really matter, we’re here to help you revive your mind and body in one of our beautiful National Parks.
Nurturing your mind – our top tips on becoming more mindful
Cold water swimming has proven benefits for mental health and the National Parks have a huge array of places to take a dip. Lakes in beautiful landscapes like Loch Lomond & The Trossachs allow you to surround yourself with nature while eliminating anxiety, tension and stress.
Find a quiet space and stop for a moment. Lie back and cloud-watch while soaking up the smell of flowers and salty sea air as the birds sing all around you. Allow every sense to become overwhelmed with the amazing sights and sounds nature provides, from rustling leaves in ancient woodland to trickling rivers.
Let the natural surroundings help soothe your soul with mindful walks, yoga classes or meditation. Blanketing yourself in nature gives your body and mind the chance to heal and find tranquillity.
Mindful eating helps you learn to better appreciate every mouthful. Treat yourself to a cookery class and find new ways to get the ultimate satisfaction from your meals.
Seize the moment – Ways to become more mindful
New Forest , Discover (opens in a new tab)
Bathe your senses by venturing into the stunning New Forest where you’ll be blown away by the incredible sights, sounds and sensations. Touch the bark of a 600-year-old oak tree, delight in nature’s autumn spectacle of bright fungi and marvel at spring’s first foals. These unspoiled habitats will leave you feeling calm, centred and refreshed.
Northumberland , Discover (opens in a new tab)
Join a Walk for Wellbeing at Northumberland National Park and discover more about the breath taking landscape surrounding you while improving your fitness. Suitable for all abilities, it’s a great chance to soak up the park’s beauty during the spring and summer months and to improve your physical and mental wellbeing.
North York Moors , Discover (opens in a new tab)
Immerse yourself in mindfulness with a weekend retreat at YogaandSpice in the beautiful North York Moors where you’ll learn about Asian-style vegan and ayurvedic cookery using home grown vegetables and herbs and test the flexibility of your mind and body with yoga and meditation sessions.
Peak District , Discover (opens in a new tab)
Suitable for all fitness levels and abilities, the Peak District’s ‘Miles Without Stiles’ scheme provides access to amazing views, moorland expanses, intimate dales and distinctive habitats too. They make soaking up nature accessible to absolutely everyone.
Yorkshire Dales , Discover (opens in a new tab)
See the world from a different perspective by horse riding through the network of more than 500 miles of bridleways, byways and green lanes that make up the Yorkshire Dales. Is there anything more exhilarating than a canter through stunning countryside while soaking up the sights and sounds of the surrounding countryside?
National Park Experiences Collection
Mindfulness is all about connections – both with the natural world and your family and friends. A great opportunity then to arrange a get-together over coffee, lunch or a picnic and spend precious time with the people you care about most.
The National Park Experiences offers lots of ways you can benefit from the healing power of nature. Awaken all your senses and explore the secrets of Dartmoor’s landscape on a guided mindfulness walk. Seek inspiration from your surroundings and work with a local artist to create a personal artwork inspired by the North York Moors. Discover a new perspective in Cumbria on a night time wildlife adventure. Try a different pace and explore the Lake District fells with a four-legged llama pal. Hone your sketching skills with the Breamish Valley in Northumberland the natural setting to unlock your artistic potential. Feel invigorated by a magical North York Moors coastline meander.
National Park Experiences is a curated collection that brings the stories of our National Parks to life. Each experience offers an authentic insight into the landscape and special qualities of a National Park.
Has the rain reached you yet? 🌧️
A change in the weather is making its way across our National Parks. And with it comes a different rhythm to the landscape - changing how our surroundings look, sound and feel.
The sound of rain. The smell of wet earth. The air feeling fresher. Wildlife finding shelter.
What do you notice most when the rain arrives?
#RainyDay #BritishWeather #NationalParksUK
They may look like windmills, but in The Broads National Park, they are actually windpumps.
Rather than grinding flour, they were built to pump water from the marshes, helping to drain the land for agriculture and grazing.
Today, these distinctive structures are part of what makes the Broads landscape so recognisable.
And while this is a story from the Broads, it’s one that can be found across all 15 of our National Parks - landscapes shaped by people finding ways to adapt to live and work within their landscape. Something which still remains the case today.
Did you know that one of these mills is said to be haunted? Comment down below which one you think it is 👇
In photograph order:
📍1. St Benets Mill
📍2. Horsey Mill
📍3. Turf Fen Mill
📍4. Thurne Mill
📍5. Bograve Mill
#NorfolkBroads #NationalPark #Windpumps
✨🌙 Look up!
With a partial solar eclipse taking place tonight across the UK, we’re reminded about how important it is for our dark skies to be protected. Our National Parks are home to some of the best places in the UK to enjoy them, due to low levels of light pollution.
These incredible photos capture another recent celestial phenomenon that has been on display for stargazers and is peaking tonight - the Perseid meteor shower.
The sightings were captured in @northyorkmoors - home to one of the UK’s largest areas of protected dark sky.
🌟Tag us in your eclipse photos across our National Parks. Just be sure to follow safe viewing and photography guidance while you snap!
📷 1. Perseid meteor shower at Skelton Tower by Richard Horsman.
📷 2. Milky Way and Perseid meteor shower at Sutton Bank by Russ Norman.
📍North York Moors National Park #DarkSkies #SolarEclipse #Perseid #MeteorShower
Just goats being goats. 🐐
These incredible animals call the Valley of Rocks in @exmoornp home - scaling walls and cliffs, grazing on the rich meadows and, occasionally, blocking the roads!
They’re a wonderful reminder of why our National Parks are so important, providing a home for such a diverse range of wildlife.
Have you ever spotted one?
📷 Exmoor National Park
#ValleyOfRocks #Exmoor #Goats #NationalPark
Look out for us at the cinema. 🎬🌳
Our latest Wild Spaces episode, screening before selected films, takes you to Northumberland National Park. Their team, alongside farmers, landowners and volunteers, is working together to create healthier, more resilient landscapes through woodland creation and hedgerow planting.
It’s a story of partnership, long-term thinking, and the small actions that can have a lasting impact.
Find out more about the project and watch the episode via the link in our bio. 🔗
@northumberlandnationalpark
#WildSpaces #Northumberland #TreePlanting
💭You might have heard of peatland, but what exactly is it and why does it matter so much?
Peatlands are our natural climate allies. They store vast amounts of carbon, support rare wildlife, improve water quality, reduce flood risk and preserve thousands of years of archaeological and cultural history.
Some of the UK`s most important peatlands are found within our National Parks, making them critical places for tackling the climate and nature crises.
Across the UK`s National Parks, peatland restoration projects are helping damaged peatlands recover, benefiting both nature and people.
📍Dartmoor National Park
#NationalParks #Peatlands #NatureRecovery
Our National Parks tell the stories of the people and places that came before us.
A new Joint Statement on the Historic Environment in the National Parks of England, Scotland and Wales has launched.
Bringing together the 15 National Parks and heritage partners, the statement sets out a shared commitment to protecting the historic places and features that help shape our landscapes.
From ancient monuments and archaeological sites to historic buildings and traces of past generations, our National Parks are home to thousands of years of history.
Together, we’re working to care for these special places so their stories can continue to be discovered, valued and enjoyed for generations to come.
Read the full statement via the link in our bio 🔗
#NationalParks #UKHistory #Heritage
Hello, August. 💚
Some habits we’re holding on to this month, for our National Parks and for ourselves.
Little changes can have a lasting impact when it comes to caring for our 15 special places.
What will you be taking into August?
#UKNationalParks #UKOutdoors
