In episode 32 of the nature therapy podcast I take a walk in one of my special outdoor places; a little wooded area on top of a small hill. What makes an outdoor space feel important or special to you? That is what we will explore in this episode. Click on the slim black player above to listen.

We often have special places outdoors where we like to revisit. Whether this is when we walk our dog, take a shortcut on a way to work, or even if it is somewhere we barely visit but have fond memories of, the chances are that you have a place or two in mind as you read this.

What makes natural spaces feel special to us? To explore this theme, I took my dog Euro to one of my favourite little wooded areas in Temple, Midlothian. I wanted to go there for this week’s ecotherapy podcast as it is somewhere I consistently finding myself having magical moments in. I wanted to share what makes this place feel special for me, to get you thinking about your own special places—what might make them feel important to you.

In my trip, I explored my sense of ritual with a big rock that I often feel the need to touch. I enjoyed looking down the hill onto the road, and I discovered a sense of privacy yet openness as I watched oblivious people driving by below. I also found my imagination soaring with the little human-made huts that are there.

Please tune in to the podcast and let it inspire you to visit one of your special places this week. Give it some deep attention when you are there. Ponder—what makes this place special to you?

If you do, I’d love to hear all about your special place, either in the comments below or via email. Don’t be shy, I love hearing from you!

I hope you are having a great week, wherever you are and whatever is going on for you right now.

Green smiles,

Stephen