Why should I spend time in nature?Why should I spend time in nature?
All In The Mind
Nature is good for our wellbeing. But how much green space does a community need, before you can see a wellbeing boost? And how do we encourage people to spend more time outdoors? This episode first aired in September 2023. In celebration of National Science Week, make sure to vote in ABC Radio National's poll for Australia's most amazing wildflower. Guests: Belinda McCawley Founder, Mindful in Nature Dr Xiaoqi Feng Professor of Urban Health and Environment School of Population Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Founding Co-Director of PowerLab Josh Brown Co-founder, Deadly Ed Credits: Presenter: Sana Qadar Reporter/producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: John Jacobs To read the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage. To explore more great episodes from the award-winning psychology podcast All in the Mind with host Sana Qadar, download the ABC Listen app (Australia) or search 'ABC All in the Mind podcast' wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find more episodes on mental health, trauma, attachment theory, wellness hacks, and family relationships. You'll also hear interviews with experts like Esther Perel, Billy Garvey and Ethan Kross. All in the Mind is created for ABC's Radio National by specialist journalists and reporters at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
29:36•14 Aug 2026
Green Space, Calm Minds: How Nature Boosts Wellbeing
Episode Overview
- Spending regular time in nature can soften stress and support emotional resilience during difficult life events.
- Mindfulness and meditation, practised outdoors, helped Belinda McCawley find inner calm amid family crisis.
- Research led by Dr Xiaoqi Feng suggests neighbourhoods with around 30% tree canopy are linked with lower depression, anxiety and loneliness risk.
- Nature prescriptions from health professionals may help people who face motivation or access barriers to spend more time outdoors.
- Josh Brown highlights that connecting with land through the senses and learning about native plants supports both wellbeing and cultural knowledge.
“I realised that even though there was all this chaos unfolding around me and there was grief and there was soon to be death, I actually felt this sense of peace and calm within me.”
Ever wondered what it takes to feel genuinely restored after a stressful week? This episode of *All In The Mind* looks at how time in nature can shift mood, soften stress, and support mental health, even for self-confessed city people. You’ll hear Belinda McCawley describe how growing up on a farm and spending time in the forest gave her a deep sense of peace, and how that connection faded as adult life took over.
When her niece was diagnosed with a rare cancer, the emotional toll pushed Belinda to seek help. Mindfulness and meditation, combined with returning to nature, became “transformational” for her, eventually leading her to start Mindful in Nature, offering outdoor group mindfulness sessions to help others find the same calm. The episode also brings in hard data.
Professor Dr Xiaoqi Feng explains research showing that living near green space with at least 30% tree canopy can reduce risks of depression, anxiety and loneliness. She shares how even a 20-minute walk can leave her thinking, “oh, wow, that was not a big deal,” and outlines emerging “nature prescriptions”, where health professionals formally recommend time outdoors, tailored to people’s access, preferences and barriers. First Nations perspectives are central too.
Josh Brown, a proud Worimi man and co-founder of Deadly Ed, talks about nature as the core of culture: “The culture is the land.” He explains how connecting with country through the senses – looking, feeling, smelling, tasting – and learning about native plants and Bush tucker can be both therapeutic and a way to rebuild lost cultural knowledge.
Whether you prefer gentle park visits, gardening, or saltwater swims, this episode offers a mix of science, story and practical ideas to make nature part of day-to-day wellbeing. How might you carve out your own two hours a week among the trees, plants or waves?
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