Health & Wellbeing

Meditations in nature: The phantom of the forest

by Susie Curtin

It is not often that I set out into the woods with an agenda, but I have recently discovered a part of the forest that is home to a goshawk, and I feel sure on such a bright sunny autumn day as this, that if I sit here quietly from my vantage point in its territory, I will be rewarded with another brief glimpse of its magnificence.

For those of you who have been fortunate enough to witness the gymnastic, shapeshifting flight of this large hawk darting through the tree trunks, you will know why I have been left wanting more.

In a lifetime of bird watching, I have barely seen these mysterious hawks despite always looking out for them whenever I have been out in extensive woodlands.

Although they are the largest of all our hawks, they are the most secretive and elusive, thus their nickname of ‘phantom of

Only about 400 breeding pairs of goshawks are left in the UK

the forest’.

But last week, just by chance, I happened to spot a pair flying tandem here over the treetops, their distinctive broad, barred wings clearly visible against the blue sky.

Then, beneath the canopy, I watched in awe as one of them sped effortlessly through the branches and tree trunks, folding and unfolding its wings and tail as it did so.

With its storm-grey back, fierce crimson eyes and a flash of white barring, twice the size of its sparrowhawk cousin, it was unmistakable.

Then, like a phantom, it vaporised amid the conifers and was impossible to detect again. It was over in a couple of seconds, but the thrill of that moment stayed with me for days. A goshawk is the epitome of ‘wildness’.

These extraordinary birds were once driven to extinction in the UK, and they are still the most persecuted of our birds of prey, for they are ferocious hunters taking pheasant, corvids, pigeons, squirrels and rabbits following a long agile chase or a sudden ambush.

Deliberate re-introductions and falconry escapees have enabled the population to recover slightly, but still there are only about 400 breeding pairs.

Late morning has now become late afternoon, and I have only had a momentary glimpse of my hawk through the birch canopy – a sighting that left more doubt than certainty.

Was that really them?

My attention is drawn to the late flying dragonflies, the speckled wood and comma butterflies that grace the path, a solitary red kite and a pair of buzzards that soar on the thermals and disappear.

The spotted flycatchers have left for home in tropical Africa and there are just a handful of swallows to be seen as autumn draws in.

Eventually, I call it a day, gather my belongings and follow the track alongside the field margin.

As I turn the corner, still feeling slightly disappointed at not having had a good sighting, there before my eyes is a white hart and a small herd of fallow deer. They stop to look at me before trotting deep into the undergrowth.

Immediately my disappointment gives way to gratitude – such an unexpected delight to end the day. Perhaps it is enough after all just to know that my hawks are here whether I see them or not. It has still been a therapeutic, peaceful day immersed in nature. n Dr Susie Curtin, email curtin.susanna@gmail.com

How to ward off procrastination

by Alice Johnsen

Many years ago we were repairing a barn. It was not an easy job and there was a lot of what can best be described as ‘faffing about’. One of our team suddenly declared: “You just have to get in among it.” We all knew what he meant and the barn was fixed.

It’s a phrase that has stayed with me.

When faced with challenging, demanding, fiddly or just plain boring tasks, we procrastinate. Anxiety grows. The thoughts preceding the task become bigger than the task itself, not to mention distracting and stress-creating. But when we actually start the task our focus shifts away from anticipation to the task itself, whatever it is. We become engaged and in the present by doing rather than thinking how much we didn’t want to do something because we’re absorbed both mentally and physically.

The procrastination before the doing can happen in so many parts of our lives. Starting a difficult conversation. Starting a new job. Starting your revision. Starting a new business or fitness plan. The list is endless, but the point remains the same. Anticipation is usually worse than the event.

How else can we help ourselves if something like this is hanging over us? A mindset I use regularly with clients is breaking things down to smaller tasks or phases. To quote Henry Ford – he of Ford Cars and, as my newsletter readers will have read last week, he of the creator the five-day week from what was originally a six-day week: “Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs.”

So, if you have a task lying ahead of you that is worrying you and becoming bigger in your mind than you know it to really be, try that approach. Try breaking it into phases and setting a target for each phase so you can monitor your progress. With all the distractions of 21st century life, we need all the help we can get to focus and complete tasks. Which leads me to my third top time management tool which is setting a limit for tasks. Accepting the theory any task can fill any time allowed, by setting yourself a realistic time limit for a task you can really help your focus and productivity. n Alice Johnsen is a life coach based near Sherborne; phone: 07961 080513; email: alicejohnsen.co.uk

If Napoleon had this cream, history may have been different…

by Fiona Chapman

One of the highlights of walking in the woods in autumn is coming across glossy, tactile and richly coloured horsechestnuts or conkers.

I so understand the obsession of little boys – and girls in my case – of finding the biggest, strongest one to play conkers in the playground. Sadly, you are probably not allowed to do that anymore. Now I just pick them up and rub them – they are rather like worry beads and very comforting to hold.

Aesculus hippocastanum is the glorious Latin name for the tree. The hippocastanum being the ‘horse’ bit of the name. The bark and the conkers themselves have been used for many years as a herbal remedy for varicose veins, haemorrhoids and venous insufficiency. Edward Bach also used ‘white chestnut’ flower remedy for circling, obsessive thoughts and insomnia. I use this flower essence lots and it really can just calm the mind if you have it in some water by your bed, allowing sleep to come. I will often put it into sleep mix tincture as well, particularly when the brain needs calming.

There have been extensive clinical trials on Aesculus. It can be taken internally to help relieve any congestion in the veins where there is a dull aching and full feeling, particularly around the liver, where it will help with any headaches associated with congestion of the blood. In specific cases it can be used for high blood pressure. It is very astringent and the tincture can really make it feel as though all your cells shrink and pucker up.

I mostly use it in creams for varicose veins and haemorrhoids with good results. I use a calendula oil base with aesculus tincture mixed with witch-hazel water and then add lavender and frankincense essential oils. I also like to add a little bit of capsicum oil which is definitely slightly off-piste! Chilli is excellent for stagnating blood – it relieves pain and itching and will help to shrink down the vein. If using it for haemorrhoids, it unquestionably takes your mind off the pain of the piles and is a remarkably quick and soothing cream.

It is said that Napoleon was suffering from incredibly painful strangulated piles, constipation, cystitis and exhaustion before the Battle of Waterloo – all of which are linked. History may have been very different if he had had an effective cream for his piles!

The horse-chestnut tree Aesculus hippocastanum PHOTO: WikimediaImages/ Pixabay n Fiona Chapman is a naturopathic herbalist (Pellyfiona@gmail.com)

Tattooists create Suicide-Safe communities for veterans

Help for Heroes is launching an initiative inviting tattooists across the country to undertake online training to help create suicide-safer communities. The charity also plans to extend the campaign further to reach others in local communities who are likely to meet veterans, such as barbers and hairdressers.

The initiative has been launched in response to research undertaken by the charity that reveals an increase in veterans reporting suicidal thoughts. Working in partnership with suicide prevention charity, Zero Suicide Alliance, Help for Heroes has developed a free 30-minute online ‘Suicide Awareness Training course.’ This is available to anyone, including friends and family of former service personnel.

By taking the training, individuals will gain the confidence to open up the conversation, read between the lines of what veterans are really thinking, and sign post them to help, in the hope of preventing another life lost.

Anecdotal evidence provided by veterans indicates that the close bond developed with tattoo artists while sitting in the chair means tattooists could play an invaluable role in spotting when someone is struggling. This is also the case with relationships that are built up with barbers, hairdressers and others in public-facing roles.

Aaron Baillie, retired Royal Engineer and now a tattoo artist serving the veteran community, said: “After 22 years in the Army I am now a full-time tattoo artist. I regularly tattoo serving military and veterans.

“A lot of the time the tattoo appointments become almost therapy and venting sessions.

“Having gone through some really tough times during and after my military career I am able to empathise with my customers who become friends. I think tattooists are perfectly placed to take this training and learn how to spot signs when someone might be struggling.”

Help for Heroes will be starting the process of engaging tattoo artists in towns like Salisbury that have high veteran populations. It is hoped that by working with tattooists the charity will drive real, credible change in the places it is needed most.

The charity will be looking to engage people from other public facing roles in the coming months.

Colin Preece, Psychological Wellbeing Manager at Help for Heroes, added: “As the research suggests, veterans often don’t speak to professionals first. This initiative aims to find a way of opening the conversation with someone they trust and training them to be able to spot the signs. “In doing so we may well prevent lives being lost to suicide.”