A refreshing winter walk can be the perfect palate cleanser during the winter season.
What better place for a winter walk than at Brighton’s very own rewilding project, Wilding Waterhall.
What was once a golf course is now a wide-open landscape teeming with wildlife, from soaring skylarks to tiny insects. This chalk grassland habitat is often called Europe’s tropical rainforest due to its stunning diversity. Look out for the conservation grazing herds of cattle and ponies, whose munching helps keep the unique plant life in delicate balance.
It’s the perfect place to get in touch with your wild side. Rosie, our outdoor wellbeing group facilitator, thinks winter’s slower pace also makes it perfect timing for reconnecting with nature. “Gift yourself a fresh perspective. Slow down on familiar paths this winter, and you’ll be surprised by what you discover in January and February.”
Take just five minutes of your walk to try Rosie’s top tips to tune into your senses. Start with gentle awareness of your breath. Feel the temperature of the air, notice any smells and how you’re feeling within.
Seek out vibrant colours you can see peeking through: vibrant red hawthorn berries, bluish lichen tufts, a yellow leaf hanging on. To listen, closing your eyes can help. Are there faraway sounds? What is the nearest sound? Is there silence in between? Focus on one, or listen to the symphony. Why not get to know a tree by touch? Feel the bark and curves of the trunk. Take advantage of the lack of leaves to view the sky through the branches. Take a moment to really savour your hot drink flask and the flavours of a snack you’ve brought with you.
To get to Wilding Waterhall from Brighton, take the 27 bus to Green Ridge and cross the footbridge over the A27, or park at one of the car parks listed on the council website. Enjoy this open-access land with three circular paths to explore with family, friends and dogs kept carefully on leads.
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