On days where visibility is impaired by cloud, mist, rain or fog, some landmarks used as direction aids in the route descriptions may not be visible. Treatment comprises a programme of specialised, neurodevelopmental movement patterns, designed to stimulate neurological feedback to the brain, promote neurological integration, reduce dysfunctions and encourage maturation within the Central Nervous System. Wilson in his 1984 book, Biophilia, where he defined the Biophilia Hypothesis as “the urge to affiliate with other forms of life”. Joe is currently writing an educational book titled Inside/Outside, which will be published in 2023 by Routledge.

A Dose of Nature: Why Birding Will Boost - Birds and Blooms

Conversely, spending time on my own – reflecting, thinking and being, has helped me to find who I really am again.The opening paragraph of this book is difficult to read, especially for anyone who has been in a similar situation. Yet, despite how common -- how shared -- mental health problems are, the subject still remains taboo.

Bird Therapy by Joe Harkness: Unbound

Three years later he has become a spokesperson for the benefits of birdwatching, spreading the word everywhere from Radio 4 to Downing Street. I always allude back to the dunnock, often overlooked as a drab bird and labelled as a ‘little brown job’. The senses are overcome; the coconut scent of yellow gorse flowers, the exalting song of the Skylarks above and the feelings – well they are full of positivity and light. He works as a Special Educational Needs Coordinator and has worked with vulnerable groups for nine years.

Harkness didn’t start out a birder, either), you will be captivated by the story, and will find yourself becoming more aware of the birds around you -- their sounds and behaviors and relationships -- and noticing the positive impact that regular bird watching has on your mental health. He is outspoken on a variety of issues and discusses difficult topics in a raw but accessible manner. For me, this is the most profound aspect of any outdoor based activity – we become an element of our surroundings; you could say that we become rooted ourselves.