As we enter another month of lockdown how many of us are feeling the effects of ‘cabin fever’? One way to help manage anxiety is to focus on nature and what is around you as a practice to quieten the mind and body.  I am lucky to have access to walks and trails that take me to trees and waterfalls, but you do not have to be in a forest to gain the benefits, there are ways to connect with nature from inside your home. I offer invitations on my forest bathing walks, to sit and

In August 2018 wildfires tore through a large area of the Serra de Monchique region in Southern Portugal where I live. I spent the next eight months recording interviews with people who were directly affected. The aim was to share people’s stories as a way of healing and to help us learn about ways to prevent fires in the future. People talked about their loss of possessions, property, land and in some cases animals. They showed great resilience and a love for this area of na

It was one of those weeks, you know the ones when nothing seems to be going right? Work wise, I had a couple of frustrating situations with financial ramifications then my car got a puncture so I had to buy two new tyres and to top it off maintenance work needed doing on my flat in London (kerching). So with a niggling mind, I was driving home from the garage when this happened. A huge bird of prey swooped down and flew alongside the car, it was so close, with the window open

I arrive on the mountain at the beginning of October and within a few weeks its chestnut season. I head to the village of Marmelete, and to a ‘magusto’ (chestnut party) . People from miles around gather to celebrate the harvest and when I arrive I see a row of fires and these are not just to keep the hoards of people warm but for cooking the mounds of nuts. They are hot to touch as people scramble in the ashes to grab their stash and eat them from paper cones. This puts a who