All photos from Unsplash

Keeping BusyIssue 5

Take Action, Get Active

For Mental Health Week from May 18th to May 24th the Mental Health Foundation has launched a new challenge with the theme of self-kindness. What do I do? • Spend 30 minutes of each day throughout May doing something physical. • You can be as creative as you like with this challenge as long as you are moving! All the money you raise will go towards the Mental Health Foundation; mentalhealth.org.uk/events/take-action-get-active-2020.

You could: • Exercise - run, walk, do yoga... • Bake - get those arm muscles moving! • Dance - get moving with your favourite songs! • Do Gardening - this can be a great workout too!

How do I fundraise? • Create a fundraising page online (JustGiving, GoFundMe, CrowdFunder). • Share share share! Once your page is up and running, share it on social media, and encourage friends and family to sponsor you.

Good luck!

Help Identify

The Butterfly Conservation is asking for volunteers to help record the numbers of butterflies they see during their daily exercise. You can submit your findings on butterflyrecording.org/ Their website has a range of identification guides which can be downloaded for free. They are also encouraging those who can to plant seeds to help promote butterfly visits and increase population numbers.

To find out more please visit: butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/recording- and-monitoring

Award-winning film-maker and presenter, Abbie Barnes’, work focuses on protecting the environment. Abbie has been producing films since she was 13 years old. Her first short film explained about the devastating effects of palm oil production which won her a place in a national competition and opened up the opportunity for her to speak in the European Parliament to MEPs about the importance of ingredient labels on products.

Her videos feature day walking adventures throughout the UK and feature-length documentaries following footpaths and trails around the world, hiking tips, gear reviews, wild foods and foraging ideas, and mindfulness activities to name a few! If you would like to find out more about Abbie, please visit: songthrushproductions.co.uk/

Get Inspired

Stay Active There is a great deal of evidence which tells us that staying physically active is not only good for the body but good for the mind.

As we are unable to see our friends at the moment, this can put more strain on our mental health. We can, however, look after it by exercising and making the most of our daily activities which allows us to get fresh air, and a change of scenery! If you would like to start exercising, ensure you do it at your own pace - as long as you feel the benefits it doesn’t matter how much you push yourself. Set your own goals to work towards. Choose what feels comfortable to you.

Our Learning Support tutors selected a few of the best apps and videos to get you started. Active 10 - Walk your way to Health. nhs.uk/oneyou/active10/home Couch to 5K - Get up and running. nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k- week-by-week/ Yoga - Beginners App. apps.apple.com/us/app/yoga-for- beginners-mind-body/id1382141225 Pilates - Beginner Videos. nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitness-studio/ pilates-for-beginners/ Circuits/Workouts - Beginners App. play.google.com/store/appsdetails? id=com.popularapp.sevenmins&hl =en_GB

Keep a Diary Yes, you read that right! But not just any diary. A Plant Diary! What is it?A plant diary allows you to keep a record of:

• When you have planted flowers, plants, trees etc

• Where best to plant them in your garden depending on local conditions.

What do I include? • Take note of which plants are displaying interesting or attractive characteristics.

• Include any photos, illustrations and additional details.

Some Inspo: • growveg.co.uk/journal.aspx • gardenize.com/