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More Trees Please
I saw an article recently titled "Seeing Trees Can Make You Feel Healthier" but before I even read the rest of it I was shaking my head in agreement, thinking, yes you can feel healthier seeing trees, no doubt about it.
The article boldly stated "In fact, being around more trees can make you feel as healthy as someone seven years younger, according to a new study in the Nature journal Scientific Reports."
This is good news considering we have a few, you know, trees...
A healthy lifestyle
There are many variables that I believe can attribute to living longer and healthier, one theory I have is that perhaps it is not just the presence of trees where you live (the whole removing pollutants from the atmosphere is a good thing) but perhaps those who live longer are those who go outside and play. They are not just "seeing trees" but out amongst them.
I notice a trend in these photos I gathered from Virginia State Parks, do you see something here that may work in conjunction with my argument below?
In each photo at a beautiful Virginia State Park the visitors are doing something. Even sitting outside on a bench or under a tree reading a book is still doing something, you had to get to that tree to read that book.
O the green things growing, the green things growing,
The faint sweet smell of the green things growing!
-Dinah Maria Craik
In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks
-John Muir
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks, and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
- Mary Oliver
Virginia State Parks are your parks and my parks
Whether we live in the City of Richmond or the Blue Ridge Foothills, the state parks are here for us to enjoy and to become part of our healthy lifestyle. We can make all sorts of excuses why we do not go outside, but did you know that many of the Virginia State Parks have accessible trails? As part of their commitment to make Virginia State Parks available and accessible for all Virginians they have cabins, trails and more for those with mobility issues, click here to learn more.
So what do you say
Is it time to go out amongst the trees?
If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.
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