Spending regular time outdoors surrounded by nature helps make us happier. Experiencing the wonders and sounds of nature makes us feel calmer and relaxed.
Have you heard of sylvotherapy?
Trees can offer a relaxing experience that will whisk you away, as you touch the bark, breathe in the scents, admire the colours and veins of the leaves, taste a piece of fruit. Meditate, re-energise and get inspired thanks to sylvotherapy, the art of tree-hugging.
Put on some comfortable shoes and set off in search of the 4 remarkable trees in Hez-Froidmont Forest and get some fresh air in the 3,000 hectares of woodland with beech and oak trees. No cars, no pollution, no stress, you can expect complete and utter disconnection from reality! There are footpaths, a botanical trail and for those wanting to spend more time here, there’s a tithe barn to explore, as well as old graffiti and ruins of a château and abbey.
Or why not simply set off to explore the town centre of Beauvais and follow the Remarkable Trees trail which departs from the train station and will lead you around the various districts and town centre, with 24 different species to discover altogether on this walking tour.
Stop by the Beauvaisis gardens
JARDIN DU BRULE
Come and relax on one of the benches and just observe nature, facing the pond covered in magnificent water lilies, and listen to the water trickling by. Taste Didier Bizet’s surprising plant and try to guess what it could be. And how about the vegetable garden with 200 varieties of tomatoes in various shades of red? Is your mouth watering yet?
PAINTER ANDRÉ VAN BEEK’S GARDEN
Venture into this haven of peace. There is such a peaceful atmosphere here with small ponds and lakes dotted around, as well as waterfalls, wonderful scents and extravagant colours. You can expect to be whisked away on an artistic voyage with André van Beek, a discreet painter, who can be spotted behind his flower beds with a paintbrush in his hand, adding that final touch to his masterpiece.
A QUICK GETAWAY TO CANADA LAKE
Surrounded by 45 hectares of greenery, you’ll feel like you’re on a summer holiday here! Water sports, quadracycles, swimming, beach volleyball and so much more, you’ll have a great time here. Take the time to admire the natural environment all around you: dragonflies trying to camouflage themselves on a tree, swans and ducks gliding peacefully over the water, and you might even see fish jumping up to the surface from time to time.
WALKING AND EXPLORING THE AREA
There are family-friendly footpaths over hilly sections, and through the peaceful forests where you can forage for mushrooms or pick daffodils, depending on the season. Get some fresh air and take some time out on a walk along the footpaths of Beauvais and the surrounding area. There are plenty of footpaths and cycle paths, with something for everyone.
The 3 good reasons to reconnect with nature
- A dose of happiness: Regular close contact with nature makes us happier. Everything that surrounds us on a daily basis, such as trees, flowers, the sun, birds singing in the morning… we don’t realise just how important they are in our lives. Our mood and our emotions often depend on the presence of nature.
- It’s easy, everyone can do it! Spending time in the garden, planting flowers, putting on your trainers and going for a walk in the forest, just sitting on a bench in a shaded park to read a good book… there are so many simple opportunities to get close to nature. Just stop for a moment and listen to the silence and sounds all around you, it will make you feel good!
- Nature ‘heals’: It is a revitalising place, a calming environment! Spending time in nature reduces the risk of depression, and also reduces stress and headaches. Leave the medication behind and opt for a walk in the forest instead. It is not only the brain that is stimulated by a walk in a natural environment, it is beneficial for the entire body. A walk in the great outdoors works wonders for the immune system.