There are spiritual benefits from spending time in nature

Cathy Madavan on why the great outdoors should not be restricted to the playground of men and boys

I think it’s fair to say I was not much of an adventurer growing up. Times were possibly different then, but where my teenage brother was bought a mountain bike, I was given piano lessons; where he was asked to join the cricket team, I was shuffled into the kitchen to make the tea for the players. These rather limiting expectations scuppered my sense of adventure somewhat and, despite opportunities to try camping or windsurfing in later years, I’d simply opt out. For years I didn’t have the confidence to embrace any new experiences in the great outdoors.