- RESEARCH SHOWS NATURE IS THE KEY TO NURTURE THIS STRESS AWARENESS MONTH
With National Stress Awareness Month continuing until the end of April, outdoor holiday specialist, Camping in the Forest, is advising the nation’s stressed-out Brits that a camping trip away could be just what the doctor ordered.
Amid the mania of modern life, it was recently revealed that well over half (60%) of today’s busy Brits say their life is more stressful than five years ago.1 With this in mind, National Stress Awareness Month, running throughout April 2015, has been designed to aid people to combat severe forms of stress with an onus on taking time out to relax, renew and rejuvenate.
And for those looking for inspiration, it seems that camping may just be the answer. According to a study into the benefits of camping, nearly two thirds (57%) of non-campers are stressed or anxious on an average day, as opposed to just a third of campers (35%).2
Further consolidating the argument for nature being next to nurture, the research also showed that campers (77%) are much more satisfied with their quality of life than non-campers (59%).
Bob Hill, Sites Director at Camping in the Forest, comments: “With the advent of technology in all aspects of our personal and professional lives, the reality is that it can be very difficult for people to switch off. Unfortunately, this can make life very stressful as by our human nature, we need time out to relax, rejuvenate and just be.
“With this in mind, camping offers a sure-fire method to alleviate the stress – as our research shows, there’s nothing like communing with nature to put one in a better frame of mind. So, during this year’s National Stress Awareness Month, or be it all year round, we would urge all stressed out Brits to get camping.”
For those seeking the perfect camping holiday, Camping in the Forest offers a collection of 16 campsites in the New Forest, the Forest of Dean, Wiltshire, Scotland and Wales.
Each site is unique. Most are dog friendly, some have beautiful fishing spots, many have wild ponies and all have beautiful woodland trails; but the main thing all 16 sites have in common is the sense of pure escapism from the mania of work and life at home. Plus, there are plenty of local activities for the family at each Camping in the Forest site – such as simply spotting and enjoying the abundance of wildlife, including roaming deer in the New Forest.
To make life a little easier, Camping in the Forest has some top tips on first-time camping:-
- Tents – opt for a bigger tent than you think you will need to give you extra comfort and space
- Bedding – a good night’s sleep is vitally important. Choose sleeping bags for convenience, but if you like your home comforts, take your duvet and a blow-up mattress
- Cooking – how many people are in your party, would a single burner or a double burner be better?
- Lights – a reliable light source is an absolute must on a camping trip so take a good torch or two. LEDs or solar lights are a really good option
- Clothing – make sure you are kitted out for every eventuality. Even in the summer, as well as the hats and sunscreen, think about packing fleeces, wellies and waterproofs
For further information please visit www.campingintheforest.co.uk
