I expect that during this time of self-isolation, many of you are spending more time in the garden. After all, gardens provide you with the perfect place to sit back, listen to the birds singing and be transported away from the world and all its problems.

I also find that soundtracks on YouTube of woodlands and seashores etc, can have the same effect, so there’s no need to miss out if you don’t have a garden. Just listening to the sounds of nature with closed eyes can allow your imagination to transport you to these places.

I think it’s true to say that wildlife and nature in general can be a positive force for relaxation. Whether we are watching it or listening to it, it can take us out of ourselves and transport us to a place of complete tranquillity and peace.

Even the simplest of things can be a welcome distraction, such as the beautiful vibrant yellow of a dandelion flower which in turn might attract a butterfly. Then there’s the melodious song of a blackbird singing from a rooftop of an evening. Or maybe the buzzing of bumblebees as they visit your flower beds.

If there’s one thing I have learnt to appreciate during this strange time we all find ourselves in, it’s that the simple things in life can bring us the most pleasure. And when all this is over, it’s possible we may have learnt to appreciate the things we once took for granted and to see them in a whole new light.

LB Loxley