In order to deal with the post-Christmas slump, we’ve looked at different ways to beat the blues across the country.
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00:00Cold, damp, back at work. Yes, we've all experienced the January blues. Well, we've looked at some
00:11unique ways to beat the January blues, starting with Richard who's in Cannon Hill Park in
00:15Birmingham. Birmingham's Cannon Hill Park, located just a short journey from the city
00:20centre, is a haven for those seeking a break from urban life. Spanning over 200 acres,
00:26it provides a peaceful retreat filled with greenery, winding paths and opportunities
00:31to unwind away from the city's fast pace. It's a reminder that even in a bustling city,
00:37tranquil escapes aren't within easy reach. Walking in spaces like this offers more than
00:42just physical benefits. Studies show that spending time in nature can significantly
00:47improve mental wellbeing, helping to reduce feelings of anxiety and stress. It's also
00:52known to enhance focus and creativity, making it particularly valuable for those feeling
00:58stuck or overwhelmed during the colder months. For those struggling with the shorter days
01:03of winter, it's a way to feel more grounded and connected, offering moments of calm in
01:08an otherwise hectic routine. But Cannon Hill Park is not just about walking. The park caters
01:14to a variety of interests, with facilities that include boating on the lake, cycling
01:19paths and spaces for picnics. For families, the playgrounds and open fields offer a perfect
01:25way to enjoy quality time outdoors. The Mac Arts Centre, located within the park, hosts
01:31regular workshops and performances, offering a creative outlet alongside the natural environment.
01:37From yoga classes to theatre productions, there's always something happening, no matter
01:41the time of year. The park's natural beauty is also a draw for photographers, bird watchers
01:47and those simply looking to reconnect with the outdoors. Green spaces like Cannon Hill
01:52Park are more than just leisure spots, they're places that bring people together, encourage
01:57movement and create a sense of community. They're spaces for social connections as
02:03well as individual reflection, making them a vital part of urban life. For many, parks
02:08like this are an integral part of their routine, offering a way to stay engaged and active
02:14with their surroundings. With Cannon Hill Park as an example of what's possible, we
02:19turn back to the city centre to hear what others in Birmingham are doing to lift their
02:24spirits this winter. If you celebrate Christmas, just keep the Christmas trees up for longer
02:28because I think it's less depressing that way. And if you don't celebrate Christmas,
02:33just get some lights in your house or something, just get some rainbow lights, that's what I'd do.
02:37Something cheaper, just hanging with the kids, make something fun for the day because your
02:43kids are going to remember it more than you are. I think exercise is always good, like you don't
02:48have to go for like a really long run or run a marathon but going out for a walk every day or
02:54just like getting some sunlight, just being outside, like trees, you know, nature. Well you
03:00kind of want to stop really because January is a pretty ghastly month, isn't it, with the weather,
03:05with money. Yeah, well on that score, I don't really know, I don't know what you can do about
03:12it really. Now from ways to reinvigorate your body to looking at how the foods we put into our
03:18bodies can affect our mood, it's Emma in Bristol. Are you looking to improve your diet this new year?
03:25Well, you won't be alone. Many across Bristol and the West Country are considering their diet,
03:31with many choosing to either go vegetarian or vegan. So we've seen a huge surge, a huge,
03:38and even just around the UK, loads of vegan businesses are popping up, loads of independents
03:42are like implementing new vegan options. So for us it's been a huge, beautiful whirlwind of,
03:47oh wow, it's really blossoming. We have a tag of humane food rather than vegan food. We decided
03:53to kind of have this entire concept just to have the whole-hearted, just really good comfort food,
03:58whole-hearted, lovely Sunday roast, just everything that everyone genuinely wants.
04:01If a slaughterhouse had glass windows, as John Lennon once put it, life would be very different.
04:06I mean, I come from an Irish background, you know, dairy, meat and everything's very heavily
04:11implemented. So for me to kind of like step away from it, I mean, if I can do it, I mean,
04:15any Joe soap can. As people increasingly prioritise their health and wellbeing,
04:20the demand for nutrient-rich plant-based foods has surged. Veganism is now seen as a holistic
04:27approach to better health, with studies highlighting its potential to lower the risks of heart disease,
04:34diabetes and obesity. This shift is evident in Bristol's bustling markets,
04:39where local vendors showcase everything from freshly prepared vegan meals to organic,
04:45plant-based staples. The city's vegan restaurants and cafes have also expanded,
04:51offering innovative menus that cater to diverse palates. Establishments like Kucha Mezi Bar and
04:57Eden Cafe serve up colourful, health-focused dishes to prove plant-based eating can be both
05:04nourishing and indulgent. So as it's Veganuary, I decided to pop to one of these many places in
05:11Bristol that do a lot of vegan options. So I popped to the Columbian Coffee & Co, which is
05:17just at the very bottom of Cotton Hill by White Ladies Road, and I picked myself up a vegan slice
05:24of coffee and walnut cake. So I'm going to give this a try now, apparently it's absolutely
05:28delicious and it is one of their specialities, so let us give it a go.
05:38That is delicious!
05:43In 2025, veganism in Bristol has become more than just a dietary trend,
05:48it's now a central part of the city's vibrant and progressive culture.
05:53Known for its eco-conscious ethos, Bristol continues to lead the charge in plant-based
05:59living, offering a thriving scene for those seeking healthier and more sustainable eating
06:05habits. Now I'm going to tuck into the rest of my coffee and walnut cake and enjoy finding more of
06:11these exciting vegan cafes and restaurants around the city. Cheers! Well, plant-based or not, those
06:17dishes all looked amazing. Moving on from that amazing food, Duncan's working up an appetite as
06:22well as working on his mindfulness in Newcastle's Jesmond Dean. I think it's, well, many things like
06:28we're so lucky to have so many like beautiful paths with trees, but also because you've got
06:33the play parks, Pet's Corner, and this is kind of something for everyone. So today we're here with
06:38some friends with their little girl, so we've actually been rollerblading alongside, but yeah,
06:43you can make it kind of a whole day out or just like a really nice dog walk, which is lovely.
06:48There are so many things to do in Jesmond Dean, as well as in Heaton Park, Armstrong Park and
06:52Paddy Freeman's. You can take the family to visit the animals in Pet's Corner, you can have a walk
06:56along the hilly paths around the old mill, or you can enjoy a coffee at Millfield House. Yeah, it's
07:01just like an excuse to get out the house, I only live around the corner, so quite nice having it
07:04on the doorstep. Yeah, I was here visiting my sister, I just like to see people that I know
07:09around here. Yeah, I walked through Heaton Park on the way here because my sister lives in Heaton, so
07:15yeah, it was a nice little walk, but a bit sleepy. You can enjoy sliding down the slides in Heaton
07:22Park, a game of tennis at Paddy Freeman's, or even enjoy spotting the fantastically diverse birds and
07:27other wildlife while strolling along the park's many, many nature trails. I don't know, we always
07:32feel like nice and calm afterwards, you know, just enjoying getting out in nature, but we also
07:38like go for runs as well, if we can convince him to come with us, but it's like lovely for that,
07:43because you can easily get like a nice ice cream.
07:50The many different routes and terrains across the park network certainly lend themselves to
07:54all kinds of running. Every Saturday, hundreds of intrepid and possibly slightly mad runners
07:59race up and down these hills back here as part of the Jesmond Dean Park Run.
08:04I used to work at Newcastle University and we also used the park a lot for some of like the
08:09geography like research that we were doing with the students, and that was amazing, like to be
08:13able to get the students to come to a place on their doorstep and learn all about like the river
08:18and how that functions, and like we were studying like things like the kind of local ecology as well,
08:25so like it's really nice that we can also use it for like kind of science and also teaching
08:30and like the future generations about like nature and the way in which I suppose the world works.
08:35Oh yeah, we've literally just walked through like the bird bit and then just walking past
08:39it and I haven't had a proper look yet, but we tried to speak to the parrot but he didn't want
08:43to speak to us. Lastly we're over to James who's with a Womble of Wales learning how clearing up
08:49litter in the countryside can help us to clear our minds as well. So that stuff will kill about a
08:55million fish. Well I don't know about a million, but there's at least a hundred thousand little
09:01polystyrene balls in there. Paul and his Wombles of Wales group go out almost every day litter
09:08picking around Cardiff and in the parks, both to help nature but also to get back into nature
09:14and spread some positivity. We are, we're ramblers who've Wombled, so we try and clear up the stuff
09:23that everyday people leave behind and try and make good use of it, but also try and look after nature.
09:30We are a homeless litter picking group, which is our substance, if you like, we go out every day
09:35and you might have seen us in Cardiff, in Cardiff Bay and surrounding areas, and we
09:43what we do is go out and try and spread some love, some light, some music, and instead of moaning
09:51about everything that's wrong, we try and just focus on the stuff that's right and
09:56take the lead and plant a seed. Paul focuses on the positives and he said that after such a great
10:032024, getting more and more people litter picking in his group, he wants to push on with some big
10:08plans in 2025. So we have decided to spread our wings, so to say, and we are going to do
10:20our very first big public event, which is going to be a Barry to Bristol litter pick,
10:27using only, only the power of earth, wind, fire and water,
10:36and putting one foot in front of the other, so. On top of helping nature when he's out litter picking,
10:41he wants to get really stuck into nature and he says that going for a walk is always a positive,
10:46but for Paul there's no other feeling like a freezing cold dip in the taff
10:50to help him get back to nature, but he warned it's certainly not for everyone,
10:54so don't go jumping in willy-nilly. Look at what we've got, look at what we've got around us.
10:59I mean, yes, we've got a little bit, we've got some plastic, yes, we've got some plastic, yes,
11:03we've got some, um, a single-use plastic, yes, we've got fishing nets, yes, we've got all the
11:09bad stuff, but, um, but look at all the good stuff we've got, guys. Look at how beautiful
11:17the area is, and especially in somewhere like Cardiff, where I feel like I just belong.
11:23So what is it about the, about being around nature in this way and helping,
11:27what is so positive about it, why is it such an enjoyable way to be able to be positive?
11:31Just makes you there, it just makes you realise who you are.
11:36It's invigorated all of my senses, um, I feel just so much more alive,
11:43more connected with nature, um, yeah, it was cold, but I tell you what, it's wow.
11:51So now we've seen a variety of ways to turn our January frowns upside down,
11:55hopefully we can all have a bit more of a spring in our step going forwards.