Vitamin G is not a pill or supplement you can take. It is a combination of body and mind elements that come together to enhance our wellbeing.

Early research into the benefits of spending time in a natural environment recognise that historically humans mostly did this naturally, as part of their work and home life. Pre-industrial societies, certainly in the UK, centred around living and working in rural areas, tending the land to produce food and working in woodlands gathering fuel and materials to build homes.

Gardens and gardening for pleasure and wellbeing wasn’t a ‘thing ’back then, as the focus was on growing enough food to feed your family or to sell. People worked hard, had few luxuries and certainly didn’t have digital devices to lose hours of their days to.

Instead, they would have noticed the nuances of nature and been aware of how the changing seasons played out throughout the year, of the wildlife that visited their plots, pollinating their food and spreading seeds. They would have unknowingly been benefiting from what is now called Biophilia. Meaning‘ love of life’, the term refers to the long and close affinity humans have had with the natural world until recent history. Although we are ourselves a part of nature, as a civilisation we have been moving away from it for some time. The negative impact of this has only become apparent more recently, a phenomenon called Nature Deficit.

There are several areas of psychology exploring how this deficit can be reversed and our relationship with nature restored for both our benefit and the planet’s.

‘Soft fascination:’ a concept from Stephen and Rachel Kaplan’s Attention Restoration Theory research, supports the benefit of spending quiet time watching nature and wildlife in your green space. Perhaps noticing plant stems waving in the wind or the fleeting colours of butterflies as they move through blossoms.

Pottering power: many of us were driven to do more pottering during the Covid lockdowns and it works in a similar way. Instead of sitting and watching nature you undertake slow, unplanned activities, such as deadheading flowers, planting out seedlings or cleaning bird baths. There is no urgency, no schedule and you might not spend much time doing each thing, instead flowing from one action to the next, noticing the wonders of nature as you go.

Happy hormones: another benefit of being in a green space is that no matter how little physical activity you undertake there, your brain will reward you with one of the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitters, serotonin or dopamine. Both are connected with lifting your mood and enhancing overall feelings of happiness. Whether you are just noticing, or pottering, or more actively planting bulbs, clearing dead stems or even cleaning garden tools, you are benefiting from the release of some of this hormone, while also being immersed in restorative nature.

The great thing about Vitamin G is that you can get it sitting on your balcony, or pottering in your yard or in a green space near you. Make improving YOUR mental and physical wellbeing through nature an important part of what you do. Then if you can find ways to help wildlife flourish in your green space, or make another positive change for nature, even better.

On 26 March Chris Grover entertained his fellow Probus members with an illustrated and amusing talk about his career in the Royal Marines. In May1954 Chris joined the Royal Marines as a probationary 2nd Lieutenant direct from school. His subsequent four year’s training included a year on active service in a Commando in Cyprus in1955/56, and also a short period in Malta preparing for the invasion of Suez (which he missed as he had to continue his training in UK). Chris’s active service campaigns included Cyprus and Borneo, during which he served in Royal Marine Commandos, and in other places scattered around the globe, such as Hong Kong, Bermuda, Norway, Canada Singapore and Malta. During this time, Chris always managed to have his camera ready. Explaining that the Royal Marines were the Navy's soldiers and so they served both on land and sea and, in the 20th century, in the air as well. In early 1962 after an unsuccessful attempt at flying training during which he managed, he says, "eight hours frightening solo in a Hiller 12c helicopter", he was posted to HMS Albion, the Commando carrier. as the ship's Forward Air Controller. He spent much of 1963 as operations officer for the naval helicopter squadrons ashore in Borneo in jungle outposts supporting other Royal Marine units and Gurkhas.

In 1970 while serving as a Company commander in 40 Commando in Singapore, the unit did a three-month stint of border guard duty in Hong Kong. Chris's company manned the eastern end of the New Territories/Red China border at a small fishing village called Shau Tau Kok. This was just after the Cultural Revolution and many Chinese were attempting to flee the Republic to the sanctuary of Hong Kong. It was the unfortunate task of the Boarder force to try to prevent this.

Chris's final posting was as Commandant of the RM School of Music at Deal from where he retired in 1983.

Vaga Probus is a men’s group that meets twice a month in Ross. Visitors are very welcome. If you have an interest in visiting or indeed have a talk you would like to deliver, please contact the Secretary on [email protected]. Further details are on the website at www.vaga-probus-ross.org.uk

The Friends of Ross Hospital held a successful Coffee Morning at the Larrapurz Centre on the March 23.  This was well supported with all the usual stalls and as always a raffle with many prizes.  Over £400 was raised witch will  go towards supporting Ross Community Hospital and providing  amenities for patients

One Ross-on-Wye resident spotted an photographed a knitted letter box topper last week. 

Joy Griffiths shared this photo of the topper located in the town with the gazette. 

Veteran Arts Society lecturer Andrew Davies delivered a tour de force performance to the Ross branch on Monday, April 8. His passion is Britain’s railways, and he demonstrated an extensive knowledge on the subject during the hour-long illustrated lecture. Who would have thought a steep increase in the price of fodder for horses during the Napoleonic Wars, would lead to the search for alternative energy for transport? The first railways were for moving goods, but it didn’t take long for the penny to drop that this was an excellent means of moving people too.

With a somewhat chaotic approach the Government of the time allowed a free for all when it came to building mainline terminus in London, which is why we ended up with 13. The result of all these extra people travelling to London was jammed streets, the solution the Underground Railway. Great design is the signature of the London Underground and Andrew enthusiastically spoke about Frank Pick, Edward Johnston and Harry Beck as well as a host of artists who designed the memorable railway posters that are so hotly collected today.

The next Ross Arts Society lecture will be held on Monday, May 13 at 2.15pm in The Larruperz Centre. The subject covered will be the history of wallpaper design.

For more information about the programme and membership please visit www.theartssociety-rossonwye.org  

The Arts Society Ross-on-Wye is part of a national membership organisation. You can find us on our Facebook page @TheArtsSocietyRossonWye and on our Instagram page @RossArts.

Team members at Gibraltar Nursing Home, recently hosted an Easter weekend filled with fun activities for its residents, fondly referred to as family members and their relatives. 

As part of the festivities, the Monmouthshire care home organised a cupcake decorating competition, showcasing residents’ creative talents. 

Each cupcake was judged on both taste and appearance, adding a friendly competition to the day. 

Additionally, the team thoughtfully gifted each resident with a plant pot, complete with soil and seed paper to grow their own wildflowers, bringing a touch of nature indoors. 

The celebration continued with the lively “Guess the Name of the Bunny” game, where family members and relatives had to guess the name for a chance to win a giant bunny – luxury hampers were also up for grabs, with exciting gifts such as wine, bath bombs, Easter egg and much more, creating a fun filled weekend for all. 

Verity Walmsley, Home Manager expressed, “The Easter weekend was so much fun and it was nice to see family members, relatives and the local community come together to celebrate this special occasion”. 

To find out more about Gibraltar Nursing Home, visit: https://www.gibraltarnursinghome.com/