We have a winner! Green Place Happy Place

Earlier this year, we launched the Green Space Happy Place Photography Competition in partnership with Explore Essex. to promote the positive impacts that being outside has on our mental health and wellbeing. Spending time in nature has been found to help with mental health problems including anxiety and depression.

We asked you to get outside, connect with nature and capture something that makes you happy. We had an amazing selection of entries and are pleased to announce that Delia has won with their captivating Owl image. Here’s what Delia had to say about winning:

“I moved from Dorset to Burnham on Crouch, Essex with my husband in 2019 to be closer to our children and grandchildren, not knowing what 2020 had in store! I have always been interested in photography, but the advent of digital photography and the ability to undertake post production work made it a more realistic ambition to fulfil. When I retired a few years ago, I took the opportunity to ‘develop’ this hobby further by joining a local camera club back in Dorset and going on as many courses as our budget would allow. I had a bit of success with a photograph being published and exhibited in a London Exhibition and I have exhibited in local camera club exhibitions. When we came to Burnham, I joined a camera group. However, the 2020 lockdown and restrictions was a difficult year for group activity although with a like-minded friend we managed to go on our own photographic outings and courses as the regulations would allow. My winning photograph of a long eared owl was taken this year at Cressing Temple Barns using a Canon EOS 5D mk4 with a Cannon 100 – 400 mk 2 lens. Winning this competition has made me feel that the effort and continuing learning of the last few years has all been worthwhile and I am delighted to have my photograph published!”

Nature improves mental health & wellbeing

According to Mind, “Research into ecotherapy (a type of formal treatment which involves doing activities outside in nature) has shown it can help with mild to moderate depression. This might be due to combining regular physical activity and social contact with being outside in nature. Being outside in natural light can also be helpful if you experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that affects people during particular seasons or times of year.”