I have always found that long dog walks and my love of wildlife photography and videography help me to re-balance. Sometimes, I’ll try to do both at once but they don’t always gel too well, particularly as my youngest Bearded Collie, Ellie, will chase anything that runs! So some days, I\u2019ll walk my dogs first and then go out again to take my camera for a walk\u00a0 – more exercise for me! Interestingly, I’ve seen a noticeable increase in dog ownership locally and we have a growing range of pet products<\/a> available online throughout the year.<\/p>\n Few, if any, seek out stress and of course, it’s often unavoidable. We sometimes find ourselves stressing over something that could easily have been avoided. Perhaps we ignored warning signs, perhaps we didn’t fully think through a situation, perhaps we simply couldn’t bring ourselves to say no! I’ve certainly been guilty of all the above. More so than ever, there’s an increasing wealth of advice available from TV shows, magazine articles, the NHS, etc., offering various strategies, techniques and, of course, products to help us achieve our goals.<\/p>\n I’ve linked to a few ideas that are available at the Q that range from aromatherapy candles and balms from brands such as Neom<\/strong><\/a> and Scentered<\/strong><\/a>, gardening tools<\/a>, wild bird food<\/a> to supportive lightweight walking shoes<\/a>. Some ideas may work for you, others may not, as long as you can feel or experience some benefit. It may well be a combination of several ideas that help.<\/p>\n I can’t ever remember a time when my friends and family have shown such a great interest in nature and wildlife, particularly the wildlife living on their doorstep. I’ve often been the recipient of playful ribbing from my family and neighbours as I strode out of my house dressed head to toe in camouflage, carrying my camera, tripod and backpack. Nowadays, though, I’m regularly asked to share my photos and videos as the beauty and healing power of the natural world seems to have taken on more relevance to so many of us. I’m sure I still look comical in my get up – but you get my point. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n This April and May, I kept myself busy during my free time away from the Q. I spent many long hours out with my camera gear. I\u2019m what\u2019s known as a \u201chybrid shooter\u201d as I love to take both stills and video. My latest amateur project concentrates purely on video, with the simple aim of producing a relaxing celebration of some of the natural beauty I found in and around my neighbourhood this spring. The initial idea was inspired by BBC 2’s wonderful Springwatch “Mindful Moments” segments. I’m a huge admirer of the skills and determination of professional wildlife camera operators and while I am never expecting to get close to reaching their standards, I still enjoy every minute of the many hours needed to put it all together – literally a labour of love, powered by nature !<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Dale-2.jpg\")
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