A Perfect Walk

While out walking this afternoon I saw a stoat, though I had to google to check the difference between a stoat and a weasel ( the former have long tails).

En route to the reservoir I passed through a forest where there was an abundance of small white butterflies, more than I had ever seen before.
Why do I mention all this? earlier I read an article in the New Scientist on walking.

Taking a close look at nature was on the list but also surprisingly was the importance of smell. It seems trees and plants give off chemicals which are beneficial to us. Hence, I suspect the popularity of the ancient Japanese practice of “forest bathing”. 

Another surprise is the importance of landscape. Simply looking at open countryside helps us focus and reduces stress.
“A 20-minute walk in green space is all you need to feel less stressed,” it says.

Better still would be long hikes along a coastal route  because all that sea air boosts your daily intake of vitamins.