From personal experience I can attest to the beneficial effects of immersion in nature. Our retirement project is forestry - fifty acres of semi-natural replanting of felled conifer plantation and thirty acres of new plantings on old pasture. Every week throughout the year there are tasks to be performed - planting, felling, splitting, walling, fencing, hedging, drainage management and ditching, creating and clearing tracks, suppressing Rhododendron ponticum and dense birch scrub, bridge building, ford creation, halo clearing around young trees, elimination of noxious weeds, observing wildlife, gossiping with neighbouring farmers, rehanging five bar gates, repairing storm damage, supervising volunteers and scouts who come to plant...
On the strength of the manifold benefits of this occupation I have provisionally reinstated my original plan of living forever and ruling the universe or at least getting all my pension contributions back with interest!
There are, however, hurdles to be aware of and overcome if the land were to be made available for the benefit of others. Many dangers are present, especially when powered equipment and guns are being used.
Third party liability insurance costing hundreds annually. There are no public rights of way anywhere on the property but if trespassers were to be killed or injured whilst trespassing then guess where the writs would land. Posting notices warning of hazards is, apparently, no defence and may, in fact, constitute a prior recognition of risks that should have been abated by the landowner before the trespass occurred.
Employer's liability insurance costing hundreds annually. The terminological inexactitude for which the legal conspiracy is noted is so rampant that those who are specifically not employed, volunteers, must nonetheless be insured against death and injury as though they were employed. The volunteers and scouts who do work in the forestry are insured by the organisations that arrange the events. We have a self employed and self insured retired joiner who also helps.
The local hunt is self insured and actively contributes to the reinstatement of walls, fences and gates at their own expense.
Deer control is in the insured hands of the local MFH.
Setting up immersion in nature as a therapeutic option is an excellent proposal and many land owners would be willing in principle to take part but such ventures must be very carefully thought through. Legal advice would be essential and steps taken to absolve the land owner from liability.
Rapid Response:
Re: Nature prescribing
Dear Editor
From personal experience I can attest to the beneficial effects of immersion in nature. Our retirement project is forestry - fifty acres of semi-natural replanting of felled conifer plantation and thirty acres of new plantings on old pasture. Every week throughout the year there are tasks to be performed - planting, felling, splitting, walling, fencing, hedging, drainage management and ditching, creating and clearing tracks, suppressing Rhododendron ponticum and dense birch scrub, bridge building, ford creation, halo clearing around young trees, elimination of noxious weeds, observing wildlife, gossiping with neighbouring farmers, rehanging five bar gates, repairing storm damage, supervising volunteers and scouts who come to plant...
On the strength of the manifold benefits of this occupation I have provisionally reinstated my original plan of living forever and ruling the universe or at least getting all my pension contributions back with interest!
There are, however, hurdles to be aware of and overcome if the land were to be made available for the benefit of others. Many dangers are present, especially when powered equipment and guns are being used.
Third party liability insurance costing hundreds annually. There are no public rights of way anywhere on the property but if trespassers were to be killed or injured whilst trespassing then guess where the writs would land. Posting notices warning of hazards is, apparently, no defence and may, in fact, constitute a prior recognition of risks that should have been abated by the landowner before the trespass occurred.
Employer's liability insurance costing hundreds annually. The terminological inexactitude for which the legal conspiracy is noted is so rampant that those who are specifically not employed, volunteers, must nonetheless be insured against death and injury as though they were employed. The volunteers and scouts who do work in the forestry are insured by the organisations that arrange the events. We have a self employed and self insured retired joiner who also helps.
The local hunt is self insured and actively contributes to the reinstatement of walls, fences and gates at their own expense.
Deer control is in the insured hands of the local MFH.
Setting up immersion in nature as a therapeutic option is an excellent proposal and many land owners would be willing in principle to take part but such ventures must be very carefully thought through. Legal advice would be essential and steps taken to absolve the land owner from liability.
Happy New Year to everyone.
Steve Ford - aka Dr. Ent
Competing interests: No competing interests