Staying at home this weekend is as important as any. There will be many more sunny days in the future, once our incredible health services have defeated this. So, it is down to all of us to not be selfish, for us all to do one simple thing to help protect those putting their lives on the line and to save lives. Stay. At. Home.
In today’s #FourForApril there is news of a campaign that is helping people connect with nature so you don’t even need to leave your house, a lovely message from JK Rowling to NHS staff in Bournemouth and lovely deeds from a man who used his savings to buy petrol for nurses and the bakery treating emergency workers in New Zealand.
Be smart, be safe 💚
Campaign to help people get daily dose of nature from home
Despite the coronavirus lockdown, people are being reminded how important it is to connect with nature to help boost their mental health from home.
A coalition of nature, environment and mental health organisations have joined forces to launch a campaign to help people get “Vitamin N” – a daily dose of nature which can maintain wellbeing.
A series of activities have been drawn up, from building a bug hotel on the doorstep to bird-watching from the window and learning nature-themed yoga poses.
As we enter Easter weekend, the #VitaminN campaign will help people connect with nature while being able to maintain a stay-at-home policy.
The coalition – which includes the RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, National Trust, WWF, the Wilderness Foundation, Nature Friendly Farming Network, The Climate Coalition, Mental Health Collective and Jordans Cereals – is highlighting a range of activities to help people connect with nature.
But with the Government’s important advice to stay home and restrict travel, it can be challenging to maintain this. Hopefully the list below will help.
The campaign’s five top things to do over the Easter weekend include:
– Early bird: Take part in RSPB’s #BreakfastBirdwatch for a moment of calm before you start the day.
– Spring scavenger hunt: Set the family an Easter challenge to fill empty egg cartons with a host of natural treasures.
– Grow your own: You don’t need a garden to grow your own veggies, just some seeds and a shallow tray.
– Build a bug hotel: Celebrate the invertebrates by creating a creepy-crawly community centre on your doorstep.
– Nature yoga: Learn a range of wildlife-themed yoga poses such as the frog and the heron.
You can learn more about this great initiative here.
Harry Potter themed hospital rooms approved by JK Rowling
Meeting rooms given Harry Potter themed names at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital have been given approval by the author of the famous books.
JK Rowling tweeted “I’ve rarely felt prouder” when she saw pictures of the handover rooms named after Hogwarts houses on Twitter.
Doctors dealing with coronavirus have said they were “uplifted” to have received a message of support from JK Rowling.
The hospital’s medical team chose to name meeting rooms after Hogwarts houses when redesigning systems to be better prepared for the coronavirus outbreak.
You can read more about this lovely story here.
Detroit man uses savings to buy petrol for nurses
A good Samaritan in Detroit decided to use $900 that he had been saving to buy petrol for health workers on the frontline of the fight against coronavirus.
Allen Marshall spent two days at a petrol station near the Detroit Medical Center with a sign that said “FREE GAS FOR NURSES.”
Imran Al Samet, who works at the station, told CNN that Marshall had bought petrol for between 50 and 80 people on Wednesday and Thursday morning.
Allen had been saving the money to buy a knife-sharpening tool.
Allen’s kindness sparked the same deed from someone else simply known as Alana. Alana, who told WDIV that her nephew is a nurse, bought another $200 worth of petrol for fellow nurses.
You can read more about Allen and Alana’s beautiful deeds here.
New Zealand bakery thanks emergency workers by delivering Easter treats
A bakery in Christchurch has given emergency workers a sweet treat as a thank you for their hard work.
Original Foods delivered hundreds of treats to police, fire and ambulance and rescue staff to enjoy.
Co-owner of the bakery and managing director Jane Mayell said it was a only small way for the company to show gratitude to those keeping the community safe in these testing times.
Mayell told Stuff News: “At this time it’s important to be kind to each other, and that’s where this idea came from.”
You can read more about this warming story here.
Bonus positive
For the third Thursday in a row, people stood outside their homes to applaud NHS workers and carers for the incredible work they are doing.
Every day in April, we will be sharing four positive news stories in one post under the hashtag #FourForApril. Got any kindness stories? Send them in! We’d love the world to hear about these good deeds by good people 🙂
Thanks for reading one of our positive stories!
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