We all know that getting outside feels good, but the actual science behind what happens to our biology when we connect with nature is extraordinary. In this episode, Dr. Suzy Scarlett speaks with two guests on a mission to make time outdoors a fundamental part of our healthcare.Writer and photographer Anna Deacon discusses her new book, The Wild Fix. She shares how recovering from burnout taught her the value of seeking out natural "glimmers." These small, everyday moments of beauty actively calm the nervous system, proving you don't need a wilderness adventure to feel better. Simply admiring a houseplant or watching rain in an urban puddle can be enough to start.Professor William Bird, a GP and pioneer of green prescribing, then unpacks the hard data. He explains how spending time in green spaces physically shrinks the stress centers of the brain while reducing negative rumination. Crucially, he also addresses the very real barriers to getting outside, such as safety concerns in deprived urban areas, and explains how community-led projects are helping people reclaim their local parks.Key Takeaways:How spending just 60 minutes in nature physically alters the brain, shrinking the amygdala and drastically reducing negative rumination.Why actively hunting for "glimmers" triggers a parasympathetic nervous system response that instantly calms stress.How the formula of "people, purpose, and place" helps communities, especially in deprived urban areas, overcome safety concerns, reclaim their local green spaces, and start moving.Resources Mentioned:The Wild Fix by Anna DeaconWellbeing Walks (Ramblers) & Beat the StreetBritish Society of Lifestyle Medicine: bslm.org.ukProduced with support from the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine.Find us at https://themovementprescription.co.uk/ and join the conversation!

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related