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  • Writer's pictureClare O'Beara

And Finally

Updated: Apr 27, 2021

Relaxing in the Park - Photojournalism


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In Brief:


Relaxing outdoors has proved beneficial for mental health during the Pandemic restrictions, and increased time spent in nature has helped people cope with lockdowns. Studies carried out separately during 2020 by the University of Vermont and by a set of European and Saudi universities found similar results.

My own daily walks in parks near my home brought me many benefits, including conversation, interest, nature study and an appreciation of humans' best friend. Whether working from home, retired, or on summer break from college, people in my locality took their permitted exercise in blue (near water) or green spaces.

 

· Parks and Pandemic studies

. Walking the dogs

· Keeping cool

· Irish poets

· Winter exercise

· Pandemic economy

· Working outdoors

· Jigsaws for your coffee break

· Park apps

· Unusual dog breeds

· Spring arrives


 

Recording made in my local park. The songbirds have accepted my presence, but they startle and pass along a warning as walkers approach.


 


Parks & Pandemic
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References for this article


Buxton, R.T., Pearson, A.L., Allou, C., Fristrup, K., Wittemyer, G. (2021). A synthesis of health benefits of natural sounds and their distribution in national parks. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 6 April, 2021. 118 (14) e2013097118; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2013097118. Available from:

[Accessed 8 April, 2021.]


Coillte. (n.d.). Dublin Mountains Makeover. Available from:

[Accessed 16 December, 2020].


Harvard School of Public Health. (2020). Vitamin D. March 2020. Available from:

[Accessed 8 January, 2021.]


Kavanagh, P. (1946). On Raglan Road. Available from:

[Accessed 6 February, 2021].

Ibid. (1958). Lines Written on a Seat on the Grand Canal, Dublin. Available from:

[Accessed 6 February, 2021].


Kuo, F.E. (2021). Coping with Poverty: Impacts of Environment and Attention in the Inner City. Sage Journals. 1 January, 2021. Available from:

[Accessed 6 February, 2021].


Marchant, N. (2021). The US is building a bike trail that runs coast-to-coast across 12 states. World Economics Forum, 4 January, 2021. Available from:

[Accessed 8 January, 2021.]


Morse, J.W., Gladkikh, T.M., Hackenburg, D.M., Gould, R.K. (2020). COVID-19 and human-nature relationships: Vermonters’ activities in nature and associated nonmaterial values during the pandemic. PLoS ONE 15(12): e0243697. 11 December, 2020. Available from:

[Accessed 16 December, 2020].


Murphy, M. (2019). "The Lasting Influence of Patrick Kavanagh." Irish Literary Supplement, vol. 38, no. 2, 2019, p. 22. Gale Literature Resource Center. Available from:

[Accessed 19 April, 2021.]


Pouso, S., Borja, A., Fleming, L.E., Gómez-Baggethun, E., White, M.P., Uyarra, M.C. (2021). Contact with blue-green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown beneficial for mental health. Science of The Total Environment, Volume 756, 2021, 143984,ISSN 0048-9697. 20 February, 2021. Available from:

[Accessed 24 February, 2021].


Stedman, G. (2021). 2020 retail trends: Lipstick sales drop, casual wear soars. [Online]. Radio Telefís Éireann (RTE). 3 January, 2021. Available from:

[Accessed 3 January, 2021].


Summers, H. (2020). Walking app helps tree lovers know their sycamores from their maples. The Guardian. [Online]. 5 June, 2020. Available from:

[Accessed 24 February, 2021].


Tree.FM. (n.d.) Homepage. Available from:

[Accessed 3 January, 2021].


Treetalk. (2021). Homepage.Available from:

[Accessed 24 February, 2021].


Wood, Z. (2021). UK jigsaw puzzle sales hit £100m as 'people find a balance in their lives'. The Guardian. [Online]. 1 February, 2021. Available from:

[Accessed 6 February, 2021].


Yeats, W.B. (1889). The Stolen Child. Available from:

[Accessed 6 February, 2021].

Ibid, The Wild Swans at Coole. Available from:


Jigsaws

O’Beara, C. (2021).


Photography

O’Beara, C. (2020, 2021).

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