AN elderly lady who had a fall during the first lockdown was then separated from her community, and lost all in-person contact. When asked how she had coped, she said that she took daily comfort from watching the birds sing to each other on the fence, and the flowers emerge after winter.

During long months of the pandemic, many turned to nature. Some research on the mental health impacts of the pandemic showed that going for walks outside was one of the top coping strategies, and 45% of people reported that being in green spaces had been vital for their mental health. Websites which showed footage of wildlife saw hits increase by over 2,000%. Wider studies also found that people not only spent more time in nature, but were noticing it more.