A Sunny Start at Lancaster
As I drove down from Cumbria, cold and cloaked in mist, the sun began to shine the closer I got to Lancaster. It felt like a quiet nod of approval from the universe. I was heading to meet Ros Jones, founder of Wildlife Wellbeing Walks, for a walk along the River Lune. We were finally recording our episode after a couple of false starts, and yes, sadly minus the grunty dog.
Ros greets you with a gentle energy, immediately calming and deeply knowledgeable. Her walks aren’t just strolls in nature, they’re invitations to connect, to notice, to learn, and to let the natural world work its quiet magic. With a background in botany, ecology and field biology, Ros leads from a place of knowledge, but more importantly, with heart.
We began on the quay, with the River Lune beside us and the city’s castle quietly watching over. Ros shared how Lancaster got its name, from “Lune” and “castra”, Latin for castle. This walk was already full of learning and we’d barely gone a hundred yards.
Spring Awakening
As we made our way towards Freeman’s Wood, a beautiful reclaimed space saved from development and now a Town Green, Ros pointed out the signs of spring awakening around us: the swelling buds on silver birch, the frothy white blossoms of elder, and the cheerful yellow petals of lesser celandine.
For me, it was all just “green”, but in Ros’s world, each plant, tree, and birdsong had a name and a story. A bramble wasn’t just a thorny nuisance, it was a plant defending itself. A black poplar wasn’t just a tree, it was a rare species, often male and difficult to propagate. Every element was purposeful, interconnected, and worth our attention.
The Start of Wildlife Wellbeing Walks
Ros spoke of her early life in Kent, of studying botany and bird song in Aberystwyth, and of the comfort she’s always found in the natural world. But it was during lockdowns, when a painful bout of RSI made daily life difficult, that long walks gave her the space to reflect and recover. From that period of reconnection, Wildlife Wellbeing Walks was born.
It’s a simple but powerful offering: small, social group walks that reconnect us with the natural world and ourselves.
You don’t need to know anything before joining. In fact, the less you know, the more you’ll get from it.
Ros sees her ideal customer as a version of herself, someone curious, likely a working woman, maybe approaching or navigating menopause, wanting to slow down, breathe, and be present.
Five Ways to Wellbeing
As we wandered into Freeman’s Wood, serenaded by chiffchaffs and robins, she explained how mindful time in nature has proven benefits: lowering cortisol, improving memory and creativity, and boosting mood. It’s all part of the five ways to wellbeing, connect, keep learning, be active, take notice, and give back.
Ros embodies all five, but especially “give back.” She’s now planning the inaugural Wild Roots Nature Festival (13–15 June), a free event spanning green spaces in Lancaster. It will feature nature walks, tai chi, creative writing, and workshops, aiming to bring community together through the natural world. It’s a natural evolution of everything Ros believes in: accessibility, education, and reconnection.
A Final Thought
Our walk, like all good ones, meandered, through scrubby woods and botanical facts, past mallards and butterflies, and into thoughtful conversation about the environment, adulting, and wonder. We hugged a black poplar. We listened. We remembered what it means to slow down.
I came away with a new birdsong to recognise, a mind buzzing with gentle knowledge, and a renewed curiosity about the world beneath my feet and above my head.
If you’re in or near Lancaster, go for a walk with Ros. You might learn about plant chemistry or the history of hawthorn, but more importantly, you’ll remember that you are part of nature too.
