It would be an understatement to say that many people are glad to see the back of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused so much disruption to our lives. Living in Tasmania however, we have mostly been able to escape the worst impacts of this virus (fingers crossed). This means we were fortunate enough to be able to travel around this beautiful state over the festive season, whilst other people around the globe had to stay mostly indoors. A healthy dose of nature is always restorative, especially camping in the beautiful Southwest National Park (aka "The end of the earth").
Last week, we stayed in Cockle Creek, Australia’s southernmost point accessible by road and the start (or end) of the multi-day South Coast Track. This area is the homeland of the Lyluequonny Aboriginal people, and the location of a French expedition in 1792 and 1793 led by Bruni D'Entrecasteaux, hence the name Recherche Bay. British settlement and whaling, timber and coal industries soon followed the French. These days the area is visited by keen campers and kayakers as well as enthusiastic hikers. Well worth a visit! We came back relaxed and ready to take on the new year.
Why is nature so restorative and how can it be incorporated into building and landscape design? If you would like to know more, read my article published in the March 2020 edition of Hort Journal Australia (see below). For that article, I interviewed two well-known proponents of biophilic design, Dr Dominique Hes and Dr Jana Soderland, just before the COVID-19 pandemic took off.
Whilst contemplative about the future, we are also excited to see what opportunities this year may bring. Re-reading my article makes me think about how plants may potentially be used both indoors and outdoors to facilitate physical distancing, as well as providing all the other great benefits they already do.
Anyway, food for thought. You will be hearing more from us on these and other topics in the near future.
In the meantime, stay safe everyone.
A bientôt!
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