It’s easy to take our familiar settings for granted – especially when we are commuting onto campus every day. We think about getting to class or work on time and about getting home to beat the traffic. Being right on campus, we might often pass by Peel Park, but we don’t always spend time there intentionally. It’s a great place for a leisurely stroll if you get to campus early, rather than doing what I usually do (marching straight up to the staff room to scroll on my phone).
Visiting the park during a lunch break is a great way to split up the day. Whether you prefer a space to sit and be restful, or want to be active and explore, there are plenty of great spots in the park and along the River Irwell to get some much-needed time outdoors. Here are my top three reasons to spend time in Peel Park and along the river.
Wildlife
This Spring our Sustainability team hosted a Bee Walk for World Bee Day – an hour of exploring the campus intentionally looking for wildlife. We spotted several different species of bee softly bumbling around (my favourite is the buff-tailed bumblebee). Actively admiring the scenery and taking the time to appreciate our surroundings led to us noticing many other forms of wildlife too. The path leading down to the park is abundant with wildflowers, which are great for our little pollinators. You can also spot squirrels scurrying around between the trees, and whole hosts of ducks, geese, and swans occupying the river nestled at the edge of the park. Peel Park feels like a natural sanctuary, with lush green grass and a flowing river. We are so lucky to co-exist with so many different forms of wildlife and have such a beautiful spot on campus!
Quiet space
Being on campus can feel very busy. Rushing between lectures and tutorials, people taking phone calls and playing music – we’re surrounded by constant noise and stimulation. A lot of us probably spend most of our time on our own phones and with headphones in. Taking a walk along the river is perfect for a mental reset. Our brains are so busy that we often don’t give them the space to think and process what has happened throughout the day! Putting away your phone and listening to the sounds of the running river, laughter between friends, and the wind rustling the trees gives us that much needed space to slow down and regulate our thinking. Having a peaceful place to share your own company is so beneficial – allowing your thoughts to wander during the day means that your brain won’t be buzzing with activity when you’re trying to sleep at night!
Gentle activity
How much time do we spend rushing around? Getting into class or work early and setting up ready for the day or wanting to get home quickly to get housework done before we can relax. When we are outside, we are so often going from one place to another on autopilot without being aware of our surroundings. Some of us can also be quite sedentary in class or work, managing tasks from a desk or office space without much time to move around. Gentle activity and intentional movement really enhance wellbeing. You can set your own pace, whether your focus is on fitness or relaxation, and just enjoy moving to boost your mood. You can also take the time to be with friends, making some light exercise more engaging or simply taking advantage of the peaceful surroundings to catch up and decompress.
We all fall into habits and routines, but we can make small adjustments in our day to build these routines into intentional ones! Re-routing your day to involve some time exploring the park or adventuring along the path of the river is a great way to give some time back to yourself.
