Loss is one of the most profound mental and emotional challenges we face in life. As we navigate grief, there is no better or more compatible way to heal than through nature. Countless studies have shown that immersion in natural environments offers a wide range of benefits, from reducing stress to boosting mental clarity. Nature, in its quiet and enduring presence, provides a space for reflection and renewal - helping us to heal in our darkest moments.

For generations, we’ve scattered ashes in meaningful locations, often landscapes of natural beauty, and laid flowers for those we’ve loved and lost. This tradition reflects our instinct to seek comfort in the continuity of nature and its ability to keep growing and thriving, even as we grieve. Nature’s beauty, particularly its natural, unstructured form, offers a kind of nourishment that feeds the spirit, reminding us that life persists in many forms. Research has shown that beauty in our surroundings has a profound impact on our mental health and sense of well-being, making it essential to our healing.

In the last few centuries, we’ve developed cities and cleared many green spaces, often losing sight of our innate need for nature. But as we face both an environmental crisis and a deeper understanding of the role nature plays in our physical and mental health, we have a unique opportunity to rebuild. We can restore, enhance and expand our green spaces, making them more accessible to all, knowing that these places offer more than just environmental benefits - they are vital to our emotional resilience.