People may not realise, but there are rainforests in Britain: awe-inspiring places teeming with life, where verdant lichen and mosses cover everything and ancient trees shelter the nests of declining birds such as redstarts and pied flycatchers.
I was lucky enough to spend a day recently visiting one of these rare temperate rainforests on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, soaking in the intense green landscape, with its boulders, crags and river gorges, like something from a fairytale. Everywhere you look are epiphytes – plants growing on other plants, life supporting life.
Being there, surrounded by nature at its most extraordinary, had a profound impact on the way I felt. In places like that, it’s impossible not to feel your shoulders drop and your heart rate slow; to feel present, alive and, by the time you leave, renewed.
I love the term “microadventure”, an outdoor excursion which doesn’t need to be long, but leaves you revitalised. Since leaving London for Cornwall last year, I’ve experienced so many of these. They’ve transformed my life – and I believe they can do the same for any of us, regardless of where we live.
‘I find myself taking the time to appreciate what’s around me.’ Harries wears R.M.Williams throughout, including the Gardener boot (below right)
We’re fortunate in this country that most of us don’t need to travel far to take a daycation in nature and feel it shift our perspective. The vastness of nature reminds us of something larger than ourselves, making our worries feel less significant and helping us reconnect with what really matters.
Where I am now, equidistant from the south coast, the rugged heights of Bodmin Moor and the Tamar Valley, nature’s wild drama is all around. It’s only a few hours’ train journey from London – where I was born, grew up and lived for more than three decades – but it feels like a different world.
I loved my life in the big city, working as a film-maker and running my company, Earthrise Studio, a media platform dedicated to raising awareness of the climate crisis. But the young people I met taking action through inspiring projects – everything from creating a local community energy scheme to rewilding ancient forests – made me want to do more, to live what I preached.
When I stumbled upon an old water mill close to the Cornwall-Devon border while browsing online, I knew I’d found what I was looking for. It had an old hydro-turbine in the garden, which used to provide renewable energy but had fallen into disrepair, so I decided to embark on a long-term plan to take the property off-grid and make it fully self-sufficient.
Last year, I planted the first seeds in my greenhouse – onion, chard, tomatoes, leeks, strawberries and so much more – and recently I planted an orchard of Cornish cider apple trees. There’s an old hand-cranked wooden cider press at the mill and I have a dream of making cider one day. This totally different way of living is a huge challenge, and it’s constantly humbling as I immerse myself in learning new skills.
Nature can feel oppressive, particularly in winter, when the landscape grows bleak and unforgiving, but I’ve learned to see the beauty in the changing seasons and what each of them bring: allowing myself to slow down in the winter and then celebrate the abundance of the spring.
And when it comes to sustainability, nature’s the ultimate teacher. There’s no such thing as waste in nature; everything is a resource for something else. When I look outside my windows today, all I can see is green, and it’s an endless source of inspiration.
Whatever the season, my pace of life is now so much slower, which has been transformative for my mental health. Like many others, I’ve gone through periods of depression, of feeling overwhelmed and alone while surrounded by millions of people in the city. Now, I find myself taking the time to appreciate what’s around me, and it’s so uplifting to take a walk through stunning scenery with my dog, Lyla. Her joy and wonder at whatever we encounter is infectious.
‘I’ve learned to see the beauty in the changing seasons,’ says Harries
Gradually, I’m learning to redefine productivity, too. I used to think of time away from my computer screen as unproductive, but now I spend hours every day working outside, planting and doing carpentry, and feel an incredible sense of achievement. And when I do sit down at my desk afterwards, I can focus more easily and get more done in a shorter time. I’m more creatively inspired than ever.
I was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in 2022, and, for a long time before that, I struggled to love the side of myself that’s always been silly and playful, when I wanted to be taken seriously. But being in nature brings out that childlike side of me – how can it not when you’re seeing such enchanting sights? – and has helped me embrace it.
When I lived in London, most of my adventures in nature happened when I got on a plane to visit the Amazon, the Himalayas or Antarctica. Now, I’ve realised so much is on our own doorstep. I’m exploring the south-west by taking wild camping trips and visiting amazing places such as the temperate rainforest at Cabilla, the 120-hectare (300-acre) hill farm where Merlin Hanbury-Tenison, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, is working on a massive restoration project.
His charity, the Thousand Year Trust, is working to triple Britain’s surviving rainforest to 405,000 hectares (1m acres) over the next 30 years. He’s also transforming his family’s farm with agroforestry, natural regeneration and the planting of 100,00 trees. Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after three tours of Afghanistan, Merlin found solace and healing in his family’s forest, and after just a few hours there, I felt calm and rejuvenated.
Even if you’re not planning to move to the countryside, my train journeys down here have made me realise how easy it is to get out of the city to somewhere incredible. If you’re feeling stressed or weary, a short trip could take you on an adventure into the wilderness, shift your mindset and help you hit the reset button. Even if just for a day, its impact can be so powerful.
My daycation kit
A camera
I use a Nikon FM2, which is an old film camera that used to belong to my mum. It has no screen or notifications; you can’t even look at the picture you’ve taken until it’s developed. I find it helps me to really pay attention to everything I’m seeing.
R.M.Williams Gardener boots
A sturdy, comfortable pair of boots is a necessity if you’re going to be walking in nature or working outdoors, in weather that’s always unpredictable. R.M.Williams’ Gardener boots are hard-wearing, water-resistant and stylish, and crucially, they last.
A good book
I’ve been reading Being Ecological by Timothy Morton, and I’m also reading about cider-making and British orchards, which is fascinating. A book to help me identify plants when I see them is another must; there’s so much to learn.
My Hungarian vizsla dog, Lyla
She keeps me company on all my adventures. I love watching her sense of presence and curiosity.
Plan your next outdoor adventure and get outfitted in style with the latest collection from R.M.Williams
