As those who know me are well aware, over the past 9 years or so I’ve developed a strong interest in ecotherapy. Ecotherapy is the study and practice of all the physical and psychological benefits from being in, interacting with and looking after the natural world, for ourselves, for our families, for our clients, for our communities, and with climate change upon us, for the whole world too. Since I retired from the NHS I’ve been developing an ecotherapy venue on the island of Arran off the south west coast of Scotland. When I’m not planting trees or hacking back brambles, I’m building fences to protect the trees from our neighbours the roving deer, or I’m digging out a nice big fire pit - this is what I think of as “green exercise”. The venue is south facing in a neolithic valley known as Glenashdale, near Whiting Bay. It used to be a barren 5 acre horse field (the horses and/or deer ate everything that tried to grow) but it is slowly transforming into a flora and fauna friendly habitat. I’ve planted various kinds of trees - I’m especially keen on fruit trees that will provide a nectar soaked haven for our buzzing friends. I also plant wildflowers - the yellow rattle was a delightful success last year. Nearby there is the enormous Glenashdale waterfall which is a power of nature that has to be seen (especially after it rains), and many other smaller waterfalls, loads of forestry, an Iron Age fort, a neolithic burial site with standing stones, and Whiting Bay beach where this year we have been visited by many dolphins, seals and wild birds. There are various walking and cycle trails around the area and through the woods - there are many quiet spots to find for meditation, journalling or contemplation. In the field itself and in the surrounding area there are frogs, bees, butterflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers, sparrows, buzzards, housemartins swooping and diving after the midges and other flying insects and many other creatures including red squirrels (there are no grey squirrels on the island), voles and mice. Elsewhere on the island there are otters, owls, golden eagles and adders and in the waters there are wildlife havens (no catch zones) where many species of sea life flourish. We even have dinosaur footprints in the south of the island for those who are interested in deep time. Arran is a wonderfully quiet and restful place to recharge the batteries. It is often described as “Scotland in miniature”: there are mountains, rivers, ancient rocks, waterfalls, forests, glens, beaches, many standing stones pointing at the mystery of the Universe, and according to folklore, faeries. The night skies are dark with great views of the Milky Way, the planets and the deeper cosmos. Traffic sounds are rare away from the coastal road, offering peace and an older archetypal connection with seasonal time than we might encounter in our busy urban lives. I thoroughly recommend you spend some time here. I will be offering short retreats at various points throughout the year, allowing clients to focus on their personal work such as living with grief, letting go of that which no longer serves us well, dealing with burnout, self care, finding your own direction, living with international conflict and climate change to name a few. Bring binoculars and a camera if you have one - ecophotography is another way of connecting with nature. Please contact me if you are interested.