In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. As we spend more time indoors, the distance between us and the natural world grows, leading to a feeling of disconnection and imbalance. Ecotherapy is a powerful tool which allows us to reconnect with the natural world and improve our overall well-being.

Far more than simply a walk outside, ecotherapy is a nature-based approach to healing that helps us to explore our relationship with nature and feel more connected to it. Ecotherapy involves tasks and activities led by trained professionals to facilitate an exploration of the connection between humans and the natural world.

The principle of Biophilia underpins ecotherapy, which is the hypothesis that humans have an inherent bond with nature and natural elements around us. This explains why lockdown saw a huge increase in views of The Wildlife Trust live cams- when deprived of access to the real thing people turned to online and televised wildlife. We crave that contact.

Ecotherapy emphasises the importance of caring for and nurturing the natural world that we depend upon, as the health of the individual is related to the health of the earth and its ecosystems.

Ecotherapy helps people rediscover the beauty of nature, to take time to bathe in awe and wonder, and to develop compassion for all life. By exploring our relationship with nature, ecotherapy helps us develop a deeper appreciation and respect for the natural world.

This approach to therapy is inclusive, designed to be accessible to people from all backgrounds, irrespective of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, health, or economic status. It emphasises the importance of taking time to sit quietly and relax surrounded by nature to appreciate peace and tranquillity.

To experience the benefits of ecotherapy, why not try one of the courses offered by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, such as our series of one-off Wild Beings events based at Clouts Wood, Wroughton? Our experienced staff will guide you through an array of fun and creative ways to connect to nature.

You can also take small steps to incorporate nature into your daily routine, such as taking a walk in a local park and really paying attention to the sounds and scents, or just spending a few quiet moments outside in your garden.

To sum up, ecotherapy is a way of addressing the imbalance between humans and nature. It's a way of healing and growth by reconnecting with the natural world, developing a deeper appreciation and respect for it, and reciprocating the nurturing that we receive from nature.

Ecotherapy is an antidote to urban stress and helps us to break away from our usual setting and day-to-day stresses. It's a way of connecting with the natural world, and of finding awe, wonder, joy, peace, meaning and purpose.