Enjoying mindful moments in the South Downs National Park
May 12, 2021
Encountering wildlife is a great chance for a mindful moment. Elinor Newman, Heathlands Reunited’s Assistant Engagement Officer, shares her top 10 tips for being mindful on the Serpent Trail. Why not try one or more that seem interesting and let us know how you get on?
1) Sometimes, one of the most radical things we can do in our fast-paced world is to stop, pause, or deliberately go more slowly. When arriving at the Serpent Trail, try pausing for a moment before setting off, perhaps letting go of the journey, and focusing on being on the Trail.
2) Mindfulness is often considered an individual activity, but we need companionship too. Why not go out on the trail with a friend, two- or four-legged, and see what you discover together? If you go with your four-legged friend, don’t forget to ‘Take the Lead’ on the Heath, so that you can both relax and enjoy your time.
3) Becoming aware of our breathing can sometimes help us out of our busy minds and back into our bodies. Try slowing and deepening your breath.
4) Another way of calming a busy mind is to focus on our senses. Try looking around, what can you see? What can you hear? What can you smell? How does the path feel under your feet? Perhaps focus on a tiny detail, such as a flower, a spider, the buzz of an insect, the feel of the bark of a tree…
5) Sometimes our electronic devices can be demanding and distracting. You might like to turn your phone off or put it into airplane mode. Or you might like to use it differently, perhaps to take a photo of a colour, shape, creature, or view that catches your eye.
6) Speaking of other creatures, why not pause for a moment and ask, what else is here? Try finding five other creatures – they could be plants or animals or fungi. You don’t have to identify them, just notice that they are living there as well.
7) Parts of the Serpent Trail may be busy at certain times of day. You could try visiting at quieter moments, maybe earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon, perhaps timed to catch the sunrise or sunset.
8) How about returning regularly to the same section, so that it becomes a special place for you? You might notice how it changes at different times of day and through different seasons.
9) Look up! The heathland sites along the Serpent Trail have some wide-open spaces and big views, where you can really see the sky. What can you see? Clouds? Birds? The moon and stars?
10) Do something creative! Sketch something you can see, write a letter to the landscape, or make up a poem or story about a creature on the trail. If you pass a Bronze-age barrow or a Roman road, imagine what life might have been like in those times. Allow yourself to be curious and playful.