Prescribing Green spaces - Neighbourhoods, Sheoaks and Lookouts in Perth
Outside therapy
Picture that special outdoor place…it’s easy to forget about it. Even the places that are within a short walk or drive away. There are those universally awesome spots and there are also those special spaces for you. Hey, it may be your favourite park bench, tree, patch of grass or sunny spot at that time of the day. Spending time outside is what green prescribing offers. Research shows nature prescribing may increase mental health, systolic blood pressure, social interaction and physical activity. Gall bladder surgical patients with a view of green grass and trees recovered better than those with a brick wall view in Ulrich’s research. Suggesting even looking out into green space is beneficial. I just went camping in my car and stepping out of my ‘bedroom’ with a natureview onto bare ground made a positive difference to my day. Brushing my teeth even became a multisensory taste of minty toothpaste and aroma of peppermint trees. Being in the weather and elements makes me feel more alive…almost seems so cliché describing this experience. Might I say there’s nothing quite like trying it for yourself and you too can also try to explain how alive you feel to the next person.
It’s taking a trip to these places that are closeby to you at least once a week. Going with a friend or group in these places is a bonus. Here are my top ten awesospecial places around Perth I regularly visit.
My top 10
Kings Park ( our main botanical park ) - many areas to sit on pristine grass, lie under a large tree, wander through bush trails and of course the city - river views
All Perth Beaches - each has a flavour of it’s own from the backpacker drumming in South Beach to the slicker spandex on Cottesloe and body surfers at City Beach. North Fremantle, Bather’s and South Beach has beach walkers and wheelchairs you can hire for free and a tarmac to wheel up to the water
Swan River - all of it is awesome with walk and cycle trails
My local parks - Booyeembara Park and Monument Hill, White Gum Valley, Manning Park and Bibra Lake Reserve are my usuals
Seasonal blooms - Jacaranda season in Applecross, wildflowers in the wheatbelt, Everlastings in Kings Park
Waterfall heaven - 6o foot falls, Lesmurdie falls and Quinninup falls as described in my previous post
Sunset - having hot chips watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean is stunning
Favourite Trees - I have ones I like to visit around Fremantle. The soaring Ghost gums, the Silver Princess with a firework like flower with yellow pollen tips and the gentle Sheoak has fine segmented branchlets that resemble pine needles ( a habit I have to pick one and much satisfaction in breaking these segments like popping bubble wrap ). They look nothing like a pine tree, more like a weeping willow making a soft sound with the breeze and a distinctive fine brown soft matt carpet to walk on.
Neighbourhood Streets and houses - Walking around the Fremantle neighbourhood streets seeing my favourite houses. “Let’s go for a drive” through different suburbs used to be a family outing and I still enjoy it. Each house is unique where someone lives their life…doing the same as us all cooking, cleaning, sleeping…doing it all in their own way. I love seeing people’s gardens and homes. At the moment my home has a vine laden with grapes. It is forming a canopy of shade between the fence and my house. Each day I step out under it and watch the vine limbs get fatter, the tendrils connect to create more shade and endless joy seeing the grapes plump up.
Lookouts - There’s a great perspective that Perth lookouts provide. Monument hill in White Gum Valley, Kings Park, Reabold Hill and Swan River and of course Bayview Terrace, Mosman Park over the river.
What’s your top ten? It’s great to have it to look back at when you next forget - you can look back to your list and be inspired to get out there. With each year perhaps it may be a different top ten, or even a top fifteen.
A vision in the not too distant future I hope for doctors to have consultations in green garden spaces. To have peaceful garden settings for us to have an appointment. A local psychiatrist talks about having an office opposite Kings Park and would often talk and walk with clients in the park. A place that demonstrates and adds to our wellbeing. May we enjoy the shade of many trees this summer.
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