"Grabbing even 5 minutes of fresh air has so many benefits to your physical and mental health. So, grab your coats/sling/buggy/baby bag/the kitchen sink (!) and head outside. Even better - call a friend and make it a "mum" date!" - Jilly Clarke

Best baby and buggy friendly parks and walks in Welwyn Garden City and surrounding areas in Herts.

As we head into Autumn, with cooler days and still lovely weather at times; it can be a great idea to get out and enjoy the fresh air.

There are so many benefits to getting out in nature, even if only for a short stroll around the block. The benefits aren't only for you, there are a host of benefits for baby too.

It can be so easy to stay indoors, especially with a new baby. After a long or difficult night it can be easy to fall into habits that don't serve us well. But balancing rest and grabbing even 5 minutes of fresh air has so many benefits to your physical and mental health. So, grab your coats/sling/buggy/baby bag/the kitchen sink (!) and head outside. Even better, call up a friend and make it a "mum" date. Talking, offloading AND walking and enjoying nature is a recipe for a nervous system reset.

I have put together below a list of some of the best places to enjoy parks, woodland, or nature in general around Welwyn Garden City, the surrounding villages and even into St Albans.

Why is getting out in fresh air important? The benefits for you.

As a new parent, taking time for yourself is essential for your well-being. Spending time outdoors can significantly benefit both you and your baby. Here are five evidence-based reasons why:

• Fresh air makes you happier. More fresh air, the more oxygen you will breathe. Then this will increase the amount of serotonin (a happy hormone) you release by your brain, therefore making you happier. Moving around also increases endorphin levels, reducing adrenaline and again making you happier and calmer.

• Fresh air strengthens your immune system. We know that people who get fresh air often have stronger immune systems in general. This means less illness overall, as your body has an easier time fighting off germs before they invade and take over. 

• Fresh air helps to boost your energy. By pumping more oxygen into your body you are allowing your whole system to work more efficiently. It really is a wonderful tool!

• Fresh air helps you sleep better. Spending time outdoors can regulate your circadian rhythm, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. This is especially important for new parents who are often sleep-deprived.

• Fresh air is good for your digestive system. Moving, particularly in nature, you’ll benefit from an increase to the flow of oxygen helping you digest food more effectively.

• Fresh air helps improve blood pressure and heart rate. Getting your body moving, releasing stress and generally helping with a feeling of wellbeing.

In addition, venturing outside will also help you produce vitamin D from the sun (when it does come out), which is essential for many bodily functions including supporting our immune system, strengthening our bones, teeth and much more. That powerful vitamin can also help you fight depression as well so get outside and enjoy yourself.

The latest evidence suggests that getting outside and moving is even more beneficial to you than exercising indoors.

Benefits to getting baby out in nature

We're a species who developed through spending time outdoors. And studies are discovering all the time the benefits on baby development to spending time outdoors.

• Fresh air can jumpstart language skills. The sights, the smells, the sensation of the breeze on their face. All this sensory input, as well as having an adult narrate the experience for them really can boost their language skills.

• Fresh air improves physical development. If you are able to let baby out of the carrier or buggy for some time outside it can really help boost their development. If they are moving around they will experiences uneven ground, different textures under foot (or knee/hand). Even having to readjust themselves against the wind is beneficial for their muscles. Not to mention bending down or reaching up to explore every last stick, blade of grass or leaf on a bush! Add in some playground fun and you’ve got yourself an amazing sensory and physical experience. If they aren't yet moving, laying or sitting them on a blanket and letting them see and feel different textures from nature, whilst in nature can help to boost their development.

• Fresh air lays foundations for learning. All the sights, sounds and textures in nature are irresistible to a young adventurer. Little ones are natural scientists, experimenting with their surrounds and working out how they relate to the world. It is never too early to expose little ones to learning opportunities out in nature.

• Fresh air helps create healthy sleep patterns. Exposure to natural light, particularly morning light can help little ones set their circadian rhythm. That is their natural body clock and can help boost sleep patterns. Fresh air also sends more oxygen into the body, allowing little brains to work hard to process the rich sensory experiences, and therefore can aid better sleep.

  You can discover more on my blog on sleep here

• Fresh air can help ward off illness. Just like in adults we know that fresh air boosts the immune system.

• Fresh air promotes bonding time with your baby. Naturally when you are pushing a pram or walking with your little one in a carrier, or holding their hand, your focus is on them. Use that time to narrate what you see, smell, and feel. Show them everything you are noticing.

The best buggy and/or baby friendly parks and outdoor spaces around Welwyn Garden City and Herts

• Stanbrough Lakes – two large lakes with good paths to walk around (although in winter months the underpass between the two lakes is often flooded). There's a children's play area, a splash park and watersports activities. Parking can be costly, but residents of Welwyn Hatfield get a huge parking discount when registered (you can do so here)

• Tewinbury Farm - a lovely open space to wander around, some animals and a play area. Plus a cafe for snacks and a drink! There is more dedicated walking areas, best avoided with a buggy, but generally the main farm area is buggy friendly.

• Digswell park – take a walk under the viaduct and along the lovely footpath, enjoy the swings. Plus there is also a nature reserve where you can see some ducks and other wildlife. There's a good free car park under the viaduct near the tennis courts.

• Digswell waterfall – Just down the road from Digswell park is a lovely little waterfall and is great for a little paddle if the water isn’t running too high. Part of the Centenary walk.

  

• Sherrardswood - a lovely woodland walk. There’s a great little stream to paddle in near The Red Lion pub entrance. Or lots of trails, mud, places to hide and sticks to find. Street parking or there is a small car park by the Red Lion pub. Or access from Welwyn Garden City town centre, near Campus West.

• Brockett Hall waterfall – Again you can see these as part of the Centenary walk. This waterfall is simply stunning.

  

• Fairlands Park, Stevenage - a great one in the summer with a play area, splash park and a big lake to walk round in all seasons. Plus free parking.

• Verulamium Park, St Albans - another great splash park but also a lovely lake to walk around.

• Knebworth House - can be costly but is a wonderful day out with little ones with a love for dinosaurs!

• Hatfield House - lovely grounds to walk around.

• Moneyhole Playing Fields – there is also access to woodland here too

• Welwyn Village - a great older play park at Ottway Walk car park and a younger park further up the hill near the Whitehill Centre

• Haldens Park

• Batford Springs - this is a lovely little place with a waterfall, a stream to walk along, a nature reserve path and a park too. Street parking available or on surrounding streets.

Best farms and outdoor activities in and around Welwyn Garden City

• Woodland Ranch - open for selected times of the year, this is a great little farm for little ones.

• Tewinbury Farm - a few animals dotted around to take a look at and a lovely place to spend some time

• Welwyn village park - two parks, one dedicated to toddlers and one for bigger kids. On Ottway Walk, Welwyn

• Stanborough Park

• Willows Farm - free for under 2s

• Church Farm Ardeley - The perfect place to spend some time, feed some animals and take a tractor ride

For more places, and more details, check out our best farms and outdoor activities for babies in and around Welwyn Garden City

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