A study from BBC Earth and the University of California has revealed that watching nature documentaries can make us happier. We know this already, don’t we? Watching documentaries or even a clip of an animal doing something amazing at the end of a news bulletin makes me, everyone watching, and the newsreader smile. There is more proof that being surrounded by nature makes us happy in every book written by naturalists. It extends to us, the readers, too, and it could even change our life’s direction, as it did mine. Looking through my library of nature books, I was once again reminded of the many writers who influenced me and many others with the power of their words and images. Do you remember The Diary of an Edwardian Lady? Discovered in some dusty corner, long after the author Edith Holden died, and published, the book became a bestseller. Another find from the same time is The Cottage Book, the undiscovered Country Diary of An Edwardian Statesman, created by Sir Edward Grey and his wife Dorothy. Both books are devoted to the English countryside. The authors describe the daily weather changes during the four seasons, and provide detailed observations of the various birds nesting, raising their fledglings or spirit-lifting birdsongs. The beautiful watercolours add to our understanding of the magic of being at one with nature.
There is another aspect to being passionate about being surrounded by nature. All writers renowned for this choose peacefulness and solitude (away from busy social interaction), of walks among green hills, swaying crops fields, swimming or fishing (not approved, surely, by the fish), of watching the busy lives of birds’ family groups, and listening to the heartrending birdsong of nightingale, song thrush or robin. I empathize with their choice of life because without exception, it made all of them blissfully happy. Perhaps, I would not go as far as to agree with saying ‘hell is other people’, but just to look at the ‘dark forces’ of politics everywhere, I know where I would rather be…
The American writer Henry Beston spent a year in a wooden hut, which he had designed and built on the beach, among the sand dunes. His solitude and observations of the sea, sand, and birds, together with his thoughts on the deeper meaning of our place in in the world of nature, were described in his exquisitely written book ‘ The Outermost House’. His writing enchanted millions of people, and I am one of them. The quote below hangs framed above my desk and is a constant reminder of how lucky I am to be surrounded by wildlife, plants, and trees in my garden:
“For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours, they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren; they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of splendour and travail of the Earth.”
The greatest influence on my life was the book “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett. As a child, I read it at least a hundred times and I remember whole passages by heart. One paragraph, in particular, appealed to me and I adopted its message wholeheartedly: ‘May I,’ quavered Mary, ‘might I have a bit of earth?’ Mr. Craven looked quite startled, ‘Earth!’ he repeated. ‘What do you mean?’ ‘To plant seeds in – to make things grow – to see them come alive,’ Mary faltered.’ This book is a bible of the healing powers of nature and positive thinking, as in the verse: ‘Where you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle cannot grow.’ This thought shaped my whole life.
The beautiful description of the Yorkshire Moors at various times of the year, but in particular at springtime, made me long to see it for myself. It wasn’t until much later in life, and after changing countries, that I stood in the middle of the Yorkshire Moors at sunset. Ankle deep in purple heather and with the panoramic view of the dramatic sky above, I was transfixed by the incomparable feeling of being wholly at one with nature. Turning around in circles, at 360 degrees, it felt as if the moors and the sky seemed to move with me too. To see the clouds suffused with the deep orange glow of the descending sun merging with the now darkening earth below, was and still is one of the most surreal and unforgettable moments of my life. For those who don’t know what moors are, here is the explanation that was given to Mary on her first journey through the moors at night: ” ‘It is – it’s not the sea, is it?’ said Mary, looking at her companion. ‘No, not it’, answered Mrs. Medlock. ‘Nor it isn’t fields nor mountains, it’s just miles and miles and miles of wild land that nothing grows on but heather and gorse and broom, and nothing lives on but wild ponies and sheep.’ What the grumpy housekeeper didn’t say is that moors are alive with birds flying above, against the blue of the sky, the bees feasting on purple and red blooming heather, and butterflies fluttering in the sunlit gorse.
To those who lead busy lives in the big, throbbing with action, cities of the world, there is nothing better than I would recommend but to pick up a nature book, to read on the journey to work on the bus or underground, at least it would make you smile. Always a good start to the day. For full happiness, go and see the Yorkshire Moors.
naturetails 
❤️
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Nature is always comforting! Time spent in nature is never a waste, but a deposit in happiness! Excellent article, Joanna!!
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Being surrounded by nature, no matter how achieved is a good thing Joanna. We used to be city people, but, now when we are in the city, we just want to escape to a quieter place. Our walks have been fewer and shorter since knee surgery, but we are still getting out. I do love the nature documentaries, too and as you say, I am continuously amazed at how adaptive the creatures are. Have a wonderful; day Joanna. Allan
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Thank you for these lovely photographs. As you must know, I feel the same abut Nature. Nothing makes me happier than an empty landscape where I can enjoy the elements. Our planet is diverse and I think it is not possible to compare a desert with a snowfield or an ocean. Each has its own wonders, but having said that, I agree that the Yorkshire moors are special. If I had returned to England, it’s one of the places I was most attracted to. I’m glad you got to enjoy it.
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Thank you, Carolyn, for the wonderful comments, which I love and greatly appreciate!
Joanna
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Thank you, Allan, for the beautiful comments, which I love and very much appreciate! As always, you are more than welcome!
Joanna
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Thank you, Indira, for the wonderful comments, which I love and greatly appreciate! You are always welcome!
Joanna
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Thank you for the beautiful comment, which is greatly appreciate! You are always welcome!
Joanna
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It also brings to mind, Walden’s Pond by Henry David Thoreau, on the American side of the pond.
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I agree with you. There is something about being “outside” that makes one feel better. After all, humans, like all living things, are part of the natural world. It is just that we forget it sometimes. BTW, the Yorkshire Moors sound fascinating.
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Excellent essay.
I’ve walked on the sands where Beston’s house stood. It was in the township of Eastham. The Outermost House is a great book.
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So enjoyed the post, my pleasure 😀
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Thank you!
Joanna
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Thank you, Joanna, for this beautiful feature on nature. Beginning with the BBC study showing that watching nature documentaries can make us happier is a gentle reminder that happiness is all around us, generously gifted by nature.
Your mention of “The Diary of an Edwardian Lady” and “The Cottage Book”, with their authors’ detailed observations of changing weather through the four seasons, reminded me of an Indore couple who photographed their newborn every day from birth, capturing each tiny change as the child grew. Nature, too, invites us to observe, cherish, and celebrate its countless transformations. As you rightly said, there is endless joy in exploring and experimenting with its many wonders.
Henry Beston’s retreat into the wild and his thoughtful observations in The Outermost House remain an extraordinary tribute to nature and to those who love it. Knowing your own deep affection for nature, I could almost feel the delight with which you must have written this essay.
Your reference to The Secret Garden brought back memories. I read it long ago, yet the emotional depth you highlighted has stayed with me ever since. Your personal reflections and vivid description of the Yorkshire Moors add a unique warmth and perspective to this piece.
To me, nature is infinitely generous, always ready to enrich our lives. But the moment we try to dominate it instead of living in harmony with it, that beautiful relationship begins to fade.
Your closing suggestion to spend our leisure time reading books about nature is both timely and welcome. Thank you once again for sharing such thoughtful insights, accompanied by those wonderful images.
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Oh, so lovely!
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How lovely! Is there going to be more? 💕🤗
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