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Why Nature-Based Wellbeing Isn't Just Going for a Walk
Is nature-based wellbeing just a walk outdoors? Not quite. In this post, I explore how slowing down, engaging our senses and connecting with nature can support wellbeing in ways that go beyond simply covering distance. Discover what happens during a nature-based wellbeing session and why sometimes the most powerful part of being outdoors is learning to notice more.

Life Between The Trails
Jun 183 min read


Sometimes We Just Need Nature
Today, like many people, I was carrying the weight of responsibilities, chores and the constant feeling of being needed by others. The washing. The dishes. The messages. The endless to do list at work. The mental load that seems to follow us around wherever we go. So I packed up Belle and drove. I didn't really have a plan. I just knew I needed nature. I found myself drawn to Brereton Heath Nature Reserve. Usually when I go for a walk now, I make a conscious effort to notice.

Life Between The Trails
Jun 73 min read


A Day at the Black Country Living Museum
Sometimes the best family days out are the ones where you unexpectedly step completely into another world for a few hours — and that is exactly what happened when we visited the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley. From cobbled streets and old-fashioned shops to vintage rides, silent films and school lessons from the past, it genuinely felt like walking through history. The children loved that they weren’t just looking at exhibits behind glass — they were fully immersed in

Life Between The Trails
May 284 min read
Chasing Wind, Waterfalls & Wild Memories: Our Spring Adventure to Skye
There’s something about Scotland. Maybe it’s the towering mountains disappearing into the clouds, the winding roads through dramatic landscapes, or the way adventure seems to find you around every corner. Whatever it is, our March road trip to the Isle of Skye became one of those unforgettable family adventures that stays with you long after you unpack the van. The Journey North Our first stop was Loch Lomond after a long drive from home. We pulled up in the dark, tired but e

Life Between The Trails
May 146 min read


How to Motivate Kids to Walk (Even on the Days You Don’t Feel Like It)
Struggling to get your kids out for a walk? This honest, real-life guide shares gentle ways to motivate children to walk—even on the hardest

Life Between The Trails
Apr 233 min read


Packing for adventures
Packing for a trip always feels like a battle. I hate the job. What clothes do the kids need? Have I packed waterproofs? Enough socks? Shoes for every possible weather mood Scotland might throw at us? What about toiletries, bedding, food? Have I packed too much… or not enough? Then the spiral starts. Have we got enough food? Games for the pub? Tissues? Always tissues. Are the electrics charged? Do the kids have things to keep them busy on the journey? Did we pack the extensio

Life Between The Trails
Mar 312 min read


Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone
Launching Life Between the Trails Nature-Based Wellbeing Sessions Over the past few months, Life Between the Trails has quietly transformed into something I never imagined it would become. What started as a personal reflection on the importance of slowing down and spending time in nature has led me to prepare for my first nature-based wellbeing sessions here in Alsager. Honestly, it feels both exciting and a little terrifying. Stepping into something new often means stepping

Life Between The Trails
Mar 284 min read


Explore Nature with Kids Nature Bug Magnifier
There’s something magical about watching a tiny bug crawl across a leaf or a beetle scuttle under a rock. It’s like stepping into a secret world that’s right outside our door. I’ve found that using a kids nature bug magnifier opens up this hidden universe in a way that’s both fun and educational. It’s a simple tool, but it sparks curiosity and wonder in children and adults alike. Today, I want to share how these little gadgets can transform your family’s outdoor adventures an

Life Between The Trails
Mar 24 min read


Finding Flow in the Fells: What the Lake District Taught Us About Family, Nature & Wellbeing
There’s something quietly powerful about stepping away from routine and into the rhythm of nature. Our recent trip to the Lake District wasn’t just a break, it became a reminder of why shared experiences, slowing down, and outdoor time matter so deeply for our wellbeing. Not just emotionally, but neurologically, socially and occupationally too. And as an Occupational Therapist, I couldn’t help but notice just how therapeutic those few days were. Nature as Therapy (Even When I

Life Between The Trails
Mar 15 min read


Embracing the Mud: A Rainy Day at Bewilderwood.
As we know some days don’t go to plan! Sometimes, those turn out to be the best days of all. We recently visited Bewilderwood with friends, we thought we were all prepared for the rainy day outdoors.... The Boot Incident (Because Every Adventure Needs One) We arrived in the car park, full of excitement and ready to dive into a day of outdoor fun — only to realise I had left one of our youngest’s walking boots sitting neatly in the garage at home. Classic! Those thoughts going

Life Between The Trails
Feb 183 min read


Occupational Therapy Models and Life Between The Trails
I believe that meaningful change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens in relationship with our environment, our routines, our values, and the people around us. This is something I really connected with whilst training. Occupational therapy (OT) gives us powerful frameworks to understand how we change, grow and adapt. Two models that resonated with me during my training — and continue to drive my practice and life, are the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and the Kawa Model

Life Between The Trails
Feb 104 min read


Snow on the Trail: A Family Walk Through Lawton Woods
We set out for what we expected to be a steady, familiar loop — the Lawton Woods & Trent & Mersey Canal walk, a route we return to often as a family. It’s a walk that offers variety without feeling demanding: woodland paths, long canal-side stretches, open views, and plenty to keep children engaged along the way. The route weaves through Lawton Woods, where trees close in and the path feels tucked away, before opening out onto the calm, stretch of the Trent and Mersey Canal.

Life Between The Trails
Jan 172 min read


The Quiet Power
As you know I am a firm believer in natures healing power. I have mentioned a few times —There’s something so therapeutic about stepping outside and letting nature hold you for a little while. For me, walking is more than exercise — it’s a reset button, a way of loosening the knots in my thoughts and reconnecting with something calmer and wiser than the rush of daily life. What’s even more beautiful is realising that this experience isn’t mine alone. I’ve seen it unfold in ot

Life Between The Trails
Dec 5, 20253 min read


A New Path
Life has a funny way of leading us down new trails, and recently, I decided to follow one I’d never taken before — creating my very first eBook. This project started simply as something I wanted to do for me. I’ve always loved writing, but this time, I wanted to bring it together in a new format. Putting it all into an eBook was both helpful and relaxing, like a quiet walk through a familiar forest where your thoughts have room to breathe. It wasn’t about perfection or pressu

Life Between The Trails
Nov 6, 20251 min read


🌧️ Embracing the Unplanned: Finding Joy When the Trail Goes Sideways.
Sometimes the best adventures are the ones you never plan. Rain, mud, laughter — and memories we’ll never forget. 🌧️🥾

Life Between The Trails
Oct 18, 20254 min read


Finding Balance and Adventure in Everyday Moments
Finding balance in the spaces where the path fades There’s something timeless about the trail — the crunch of gravel underfoot, the scent...

Life Between The Trails
Oct 6, 20252 min read


Review: The Art of Forest Bathing by Aurora Munro 🌿
Book cover: Amazon, Aurora Munro. In a culture that often glorifies speed, productivity, and constant connectivity, the simplicity of...

Life Between The Trails
Sep 25, 20253 min read


Nurturing Growth: Encouraging Your Children’s Mental and Physical Development Through Outdoor Adventures
When I think back to my happiest childhood moments, most of them happened outdoors—muddy boots, messy hair, and big smiles. And now, as a...

Life Between The Trails
Sep 15, 20254 min read


Our Summer Adventure: Family Road Trip Through Spain, Andorra, and France
Well, it's taken me some time to finally sit and write this. There were so many details to remember... so here it is!... When we set off...

Life Between The Trails
Sep 13, 20256 min read


A Refreshing Circular Walk at Consall Nature Park
Start your journey from the Consall Nature Park car park (opens at 9:00 AM), pop into toilets at the Visitor Centre, then set off through...

Life Between The Trails
Aug 27, 20252 min read
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