I am enjoying a perfect late spring evening in an English village. The sun is setting over the wheat fields, rabbits play in a meadow, the hedgerows are bursting with life and there are swifts and swallows on the wing. In the distance I can hear the mournful bleating of lambs and an owl begin to hoot in the woods. These are just some of the numerous natural wonders of an English village in May.

If you are wondering 'what is spring like in the UK', 'if the UK experiences calm and dry weather in spring', or 'which birds are associated with spring in the UK', this podcast episode might have some answers for you.

Listen to a podcast about enjoying a perfect late spring evening in an English village.

Photo © copyright Matthew Brace.

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

Contact me via LinkedIn.

Don’t forget to like and follow/subscribe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am in one of my favourite green spaces in Asia: Singapore's magnificent Gardens By The Bay. There’s something wonderfully peaceful about being here and doing nothing but staring at nature. In Singapore, this is the best way to start the morning and give you the mental strength to tackle whatever the day may throw at you later. If you are keen to find out 'what is special about Gardens By The Bay Singapore', 'what are three of the attractions at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore' or 'how are Gardens By The Bay sustainable', this podcast might be able to help with some answers.

Listen to a podcast about the early morning joys of Singapore's glorious Gardens By The Bay.

Photo © copyright Matthew Brace.

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

Contact me via LinkedIn.

Don’t forget to like and follow/subscribe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tasmania is a treasure trove of wildlife and wilderness. It is a place of ancient forests, wild coastlines and primeval landscapes, some of which have barely changed in millions of years. It is a place I visit as often as I can to immerse myself in nature and temporarily forget the fears and frictions of the world... and it never fails to calm me. If you are wondering 'what is so special about Tasmania', 'what kind of birds live in Tasmania' or 'what is it like hiking the Overland Track' this podcast might give you some answers.

Listen to a podcast about natural therapy in a forest in Tasmania.

Photo © copyright Matthew Brace.

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

Contact me via LinkedIn.

Don’t forget to like and follow/subscribe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I spent a week admiring 'my' iceberg in Grates Cove in Newfoundland. I watched it from dawn to dusk and sometimes even at night. It turned, rolled and drifted. It was hypnotic and very relaxing. If you are wondering 'what is the best time of year to see icebergs in Newfoundland', 'are there any icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland' or 'what to see on the Avalon peninsula' then this podcast episode could help you.

Listen to a podcast about how meditative it can be to watch a pirouetting iceberg in Canada.

Photo © copyright Matthew Brace.

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

Contact me via LinkedIn.

Don’t forget to like and follow/subscribe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I travelled to the Åland Islands to spend a day sunbathing and exploring the forest on my very own islet. This is the perfect place to slow down and enjoy nature. The islands are also somewhat quirky: they are technically autonomous and part of Finland yet most people speak Swedish, and they have a weird flag rule. If you are asking yourself 'where are the Åland Islands', 'are the Åland Islands beautiful' or 'are the Åland Islands worth visiting' this podcast could help you out.

Listen to a podcast about spending a long, mild, carefree summer day on a tiny islet in the Baltic.

Photo © copyright Matthew Brace.

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

Contact me via LinkedIn.

Don’t forget to like and follow/subscribe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I found peace and calm in a natural oasis in the middle of Tokyo and it was totally unexpected. I went for a walk looking for a spot to sit on the waterfront of Tokyo Bay and watch the seabirds. Instead, I found the Hama-rikyu Gardens, which date back to the 1600s. The gardens are full of graceful cedars and include groves of plum and cherry trees, a bank of peonies and a wisteria trellis. There are also small teahouses which appear to float magically on the lake.

If you are wondering 'are the Hama-rikyu gardens worth visiting', 'which is the best garden to visit in Tokyo', or 'how to find peace in a Japanese garden', this podcast might be able to help.

Listen to a podcast about finding tranquillity in the centre of Tokyo.

Photo © copyright Matthew Brace.

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

Contact me via LinkedIn.

Don’t forget to like and follow/subscribe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I travelled to New Zealand’s South Island at Maori New Year to witness a dark-sky spectacle in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. These reserves are being established across the globe, which is good for astronomers but – more importantly – for animals and birds, as more and more human-created light is disrupting and threatening their migrations and survival.

I learned about Maori astronomy and looked for star patterns the local Maori people know and love such as ‘wakas’ or star canoes ploughing across the celestial ocean, reminiscent of the crafts their forebears used to traverse the vast expanses of the South Pacific and find New Zealand. It was mesmerising. If you’re wondering ‘where is the best place to stargaze in South Island, New Zealand’, ‘can I see the Milky Way in New Zealand’, or ‘what is the best month for stargazing in New Zealand’, this podcast might have some answers for you.

Listen to a podcast about witnessing a dark-sky spectacle in New Zealand.

Photo © copyright Matthew Brace.

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

Contact me via LinkedIn.

Don’t forget to like and follow/subscribe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I travelled to Costa Rica in Central America to climb a volcano called Arenal, which was an exhilarating experience. If you want to know 'is it worth going to Arenal volcano', 'what lives in the Costa Rica jungle' or 'how to see Costa Rica rainforest' this podcast might be able to help.

WARNING: Arenal is currently not erupting but an eruption could happen at any time. Climbing live and even dormant volcanos is seriously dangerous, utterly unpredictable and potentially life-threatening. Climb at your own risk. Source and understand as much safety, risk and travel insurance information as you can while planning your trip. Preferably go with a local guide.

Listen to a podcast about climbing a live volcano in Costa Rica.

Photo courtesy of Visit Costa Rica.

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

Contact me via LinkedIn.

Don’t forget to like and follow/subscribe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.