Find The Nature: A Mindful Urban Nature Walk with Mudita Salus 🌿

What happens when you slow down in the middle of a bustling city? What do you notice when you really look? On Sunday, as part of the Festival of Nature 2025, we invited a group of curious minds to do just that on our ‘Find The Nature’ mindful urban nature walk, and the results were quietly powerful.

Beneath the noise and concrete, nature was waiting to be seen.

What is ‘Find The Nature’?

Hosted by Mudita Salus CIC, Find The Nature was a gentle and reflective 2-hour walk through Bristol’s harbourside, carefully crafted to help people slow down and reconnect with nature - even in the most surprising and overlooked places. Set against a backdrop of historic buildings, harbourside cafes, and city bustle, the walk offered a chance to pause and rediscover the wildness hidden in plain sight.

Guided by the Five Pathways to Nature Connection (developed by the University of Derby), we offered a series of simple, interactive activities that invited participants to:

• 🌼 Notice nature’s details – the tiny plants growing through cracks, the way light plays on the water, or the gentle movement of a tree’s shadow.

• 👃 Engage the senses – through touch, smell, sound and sight, inviting a deeper, embodied presence.

• 💚 Build emotional connections – by encouraging awe, gratitude and appreciation for the natural world.

• 🔍 Reflect on personal meaning – using simple prompts and nature-inspired words to draw insight from what was seen or felt.

• 💧 Take compassionate action – by noticing where nature needs care, and where we can play a role in protecting it.

We wandered between boats and buildings, under cranes and across cobbled streets, taking time to notice the small wildflowers in the pavement, the moss creeping up old stone, and birds threading the skies above. It was a gentle, moving reminder that nature is not only in forests and fields - it’s also here, woven through the fabric of our cities, waiting to be noticed, appreciated, and protected.Part of the Festival of Nature – UK’s Largest Celebration of the Natural World

This event was run in partnership with the Festival of Nature – a week-long celebration of wildlife, water, and the ways people connect with the natural world. This year’s theme, Water, encouraged us to consider our relationship with this vital element, from oceans to raindrops.

We paused beside the water’s edge at Bristol’s harbour and asked:
What emotions does nature bring up for you
The answers were as varied as the people who joined us.

5 Simple Ways We Invited Nature In

Throughout the walk, we used five simple yet powerful invitations to help participants connect more deeply with the natural world around them. These gentle activities followed the Five Pathways to Nature Connection, turning a casual stroll into something more mindful, meaningful, and restorative. Each invitation was adaptable, allowing individuals of all ages and abilities to engage in their own way.

1. Sensing Stillness

We began by pausing - really pausing - to allow the city to settle around us using our senses. Participants were invited to stand silently for a minute or two, softening their focus and simply noticing what came into their awareness: the breeze against their skin, distant seagulls, rustling leaves, feet on cobbles. This moment of stillness created space to arrive fully and shift from ‘doing’ into ‘being’.

2. Touch and Texture

Along the route, we encouraged gentle exploration of the tactile world, from the cool, damp feel of moss to the rough bark of a city tree, or the surprising softness of a wild plant growing between paving stones. This activity helped bring participants out of their heads and into their senses, grounding them in the present moment.

3. Nature Fortune Cards

Everyone drew a small card printed with a nature-inspired word or phrase - like flow, patience, or soft strength. They were then invited to find something in the environment that related to their word. Some found symbols of resilience in weeds pushing through cracks, others saw trust in a bird gliding effortlessly across the sky. It was a quiet and creative way to reflect and connect.

4. Noticing Small Wonders

We asked everyone to look for the unnoticed - the hidden, overlooked bits of life that thrive in the edges. From tiny snails on railings to lichens colouring old brick walls, this invitation sparked curiosity and delight. It encouraged a childlike sense of wonder and a new appreciation for the often-missed beauty in our urban spaces.

5. Sharing Reflections

At the water’s edge, we took time to sit and gently share what we had seen, felt, or thought during the walk. Some spoke, others simply listened - and both were equally valued. This act of reflective sharing deepened the experience and reminded us of the importance of connection not just with nature, but with one another.

These five simple practices turned an ordinary city walk into a rich, shared journey - one that left many feeling calmer, more connected, and a little more in tune with the world around them.

What People Said

“I never realised how much was growing here. It made me see the harbour in a totally different way.”

“It was so grounding. Like taking a breath I didn’t know I needed.”

“Weeds aren’t weeds when you really look at them.”

Why Urban Nature Connection Matters

Research shows that even small moments of connection with nearby nature can improve mental health, boost mood, and increase feelings of belonging (Natural England, 2020). In busy city environments, these moments can be even more meaningful.

At Mudita Salus, our mission is to make holistic wellbeing accessible to everyone. Events like this are part of our commitment to creating supportive, inclusive spaces where people can reconnect – with themselves, each other, and nature.

Want to Join Us Next Time?

Missed out on this event? We’ve got more mindful walks, retreats, and workshops planned throughout the year.
👉 Sign up for updates on our Events Page
👉 Follow us on Facebook for upcoming sessions
👉 Read more about the Five Pathways to Nature Connection

💙 Help Spread the Word

If this event resonated with you, please share this blog post with a friend or on social media. The more people who reconnect with nature, the stronger our communities and our planet will be.

Photos from our session