My first Woodland Ways course was back in 2011 and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, spending two nights outdoors without a tent was new to me. However the instructing team were superb and took the group through the basics of shelter building and supported us as we put together our A-Frame shelters ahead of a cold and damp October night. Having been chilled the night before under a tarp I was pleasantly surprised how warm my little shelter was and how well it kept me dry from the overnight rain (apart from one drip near my feet). On the Sunday, as we dismantled the shelters, I asked the instructor if I could keep one of the Hazel poles as a reminder of the weekend. Permission was granted and I returned home with my keepsake safely tucked away in the car.
That weekend, and many like it, have proved to me the value of time spent in the great outdoors. I’m not alone in this respect, there has been extensive research (1,2,3 below) that has proven time outdoors offers many benefits such as reduced stress, lowered blood pressure, improved mood, greater creativity and improved focus. The list goes on and most of the readers of this blog will have spent time in the woods or on an expedition with us and know firsthand how ‘Dirt Time’ is a valuable part of our lives.
Sadly, most of us cannot live in the Woods full time (although some of our instructors get pretty close over the busy summer period) so how can we maintain those woodland benefits when we’re sitting at work bashing out emails on a keyboard? This is where keepsakes come in to play, psychologically these items act as tangible reminders that can help anchor emotions and memories or be used as a mindfulness tool prompting positive reflection. This is in stark contrast to our modern digital lives where a fleeting TikTok video may amuse us for 15 seconds before we switch to the next “new shiny thing”.
I’m a practical person so I like my keepsakes to do more than gather dust on a shelf. The Hazel pole from my first shelter has evolved into a useful part of my life. Rather than leave it as a stick in a wood pile I stripped off the bark, waterproofed it with Tung Oil, added a grip and it’s become a handy trekking pole, ideal for support or checking the depth of puddles when out and about. It can even be repurposed back to its original role as a pole in a Tarp based shelter.
My second item is a butter knife carved during a family course that my eldest Son and I attended. It wasn’t really the greatest shape for a butter knife but rather than consign it to the fire or leave it in a drawer it was reshaped and I now use it as part of my teaching kit if I’m running a knife safety session. I can wave it around and demonstrate all the “things not to do” knowing that it’s not going to cause any injuries and each time I use it I recall the memory of that time in the woods with my Son.
My final item is the smallest and whilst it’s more decorative than practical it still gets used outdoors. One of my favourite courses I have attended is the Axe Workshop and Tree Interpretation weekend. Being an Engineer I’m a practical person and learning about the trees and the differing properties of wood then using that wood to build useful camp equipment aligns neatly with my values. As we made our three legged stools from a tree we had felled we needed wedges to prevent the legs falling out. A fallen piece of English Elm provided the perfect solution. In the evening around the campfire I took a spare piece, with the characteristic dark heartwood, carved it into a leaf shape and attached it to my hat. Although the heartwood has faded over the years it remains a part of my headgear and a reminder of a great weekend.
I have focussed on practical keepsakes because that’s what appeals to me but everyone is different. I have seen customers sketching, taking photographs or just spending quality time with their child. Having a keepsake can take you back to your time outdoors even if you’re now indoors. Just that small reminder can evoke your connection with nature and maintain the benefits of that time long after you’re home and back into the hustle and bustle of modern life. The type of keepsake is going to be personal to you but next time you’re outdoors see what catches your eye. Always remember to abide by the foragers code, take only what’s needed, respect habitats and make sure you have permission.
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44097-3 Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg0yvdjgn5o How 20 minutes of nature can boost your health
-
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-06/MHAW21-Nature-research-report.pdf How connection with nature benefits our mental health