by Carla Caruso

Your Open, Green, Public Park Lands have never been more important.

With South Australia in lockdown due to COVID-19 clusters, city-dwellers and those living in nearby suburbs have found respite in Park Lands again for exercise (albeit stayng within 2.5km of home).

Park Lands cycling/walking trails are being promoted online by the City of Adelaide. Nearly all of the Park Lands Trail is within 2.5km of the Adelaide CBD, and tens of thousands of Adelaideans live within 2.5km of the Park Lands.

Last year, international body “World Urban Parks” also emphasised the importance of Parks during the pandemic, with a campaign emphasizing that “#NatureNeverCloses”.

Adelaide integrative nutrition health coach Natalie Almond, behind Almond Holistic Health, says there are many wonderful benefits of being out in nature – even in a raincoat and beanie.

“We are living in some very different and stressful times and stress can eat our health up; something we work hard on,” Natalie says.

“When the feeling of being overwhelmed hits, usually [a good] move is going for a walk into the fresh air. We can reassess what’s happening, make better decisions, and think clearer after moving our body.

“During a lockdown, we can easily fall into the couch-potato trap, especially in cold weather. If restrictions allow, when that sun is out, rug up and head on outside to boost your Vitamin D [from sunshine]. Vitamin D is so important for our immune systems. It’s something that cannot be made by itself in our body and is created when we go out into the sun, in the fresh air, and from eating good quality food.

“Being outside also helps regulate our hormones, supporting good moods, clear thinking and, very importantly, good sleep. Because without decent sleep, how do we feel? Sluggish … and what do we then do? Fuel up on caffeine and comfort foods, which can then create brain fog.

“One little thing I’d like to add in is ‘grounding’. I like to run around and kick the ball barefoot with my little boy on the grass at least once a day. We are both rugged up. But out feet are soaking up all the goodness of nature, and taking us away from our screens. It slows us down and helps us breathe in the smells of the beautiful plants around us.

“Children can help us embrace a lot of the little things in life we never made time for before. Let’s slow down, breathe, and refresh when given the opportunity.” 

Victoria Park/Pakapakanthi (Park 16) houses SA’s only 24-hour COVID drive-through testing station.  You can find other testing centres at this link.