Recorded in: Harlow Carr Gardens, Harrogate

Mindfulness and Wellbeing Topics: Beginner's Mind and Lifelong Learning

Composers: Fran Wyburn and Ben Crick

Performers: Guitar & Voice - Fran Wyburn, Violin - Sophie Rosa

Camerata Recording: Ben Crick

Field Recordings: Ben Crick

Sound Editing: Ted Westwood

Sound Design: Ben Crick


Music can be inspired by any number of things, from people to events and from stories to communities; perhaps one of the most common inspirations though is the natural world and the environment that surrounds us every day. In the 17th Vivaldi’s early works invoke frost, streams and even barking dogs whereas in the 18th century Mozart gives us birdsong in a piano concerto and fire in an opera to say nothing of Haydn conjuring up great swathes of the animal kingdom in his oratorio The Creation. In the 19th century Beethoven paints the most evocative pastoral scene in his 6th symphony whilst composers as diverse as Britten, Bartok and Sibelius in the 20th century have all composed music inspired by their immediate surroundings.

If the power of the natural world to inspire artists is well known and long established, in our own time the natural world’s ability to revitalise, refresh and protect everybody’s mental health is starting to be explored and generally more widely understood. The charities Mind and The Mental Health foundation have both found periods spent in the outdoors have numerous quantifiable and measurable benefits ranging from reduction in stress and anxiety to improved sleep patterns. Perhaps the pithiest summary though comes from the American Psychological Association who describe time spent in nature as ‘a balm for our busy brains’, it is the aim of these podcasts to be an aid to that balm.

Time in nature is all well and good but what if time pressures, geographical distance, illness or mobility issues prevent you from having that experience; well spend ten minutes with these podcasts and we hope to provide a burst of those benefits from your own home. Each podcast takes the listener on an aural journey in North Yorkshire through a popular part of the county. Along the way are short sentences inspired by the mindfulness teachings of Jon Kabat Zin inviting the listener to reflect on thoughts that can bring peace and tranquillity to themselves and encouraging the wellbeing concepts of Present Moment Awareness, Non Judgement, Non Attachment, Acceptance and Beginner’s Mind.  Following these sentences are periods of soundscapes recorded on location to allow the listener to be alone with their thoughts before a 3 minute composition, inspired by the soundscape, is performed by members of Skipton Building Society Camerata bringing together the teachings, natural sounds and concepts discovered in the podcast.

So if you’re stuck inside for what every reason, have 10 minutes, find a comfy chair and please find a balm for your brain in these journeys.

Recorded in: Haworth

Mindfulness and Wellbeing topics: Acceptance and Staying Active

Composer: Flori Maunders

Performers: Clarinet - Marianne Rawles, Clarinet - Jonathon Guy

Camerata Recording: Ted Westwood at Skipton Town Hall

Field Recordings: Ben Crick

Sound Editing: Ted Westwood

Sound Design: Ben Crick


Music can be inspired by any number of things, from people to events and from stories to communities; perhaps one of the most common inspirations though is the natural world and the environment that surrounds us every day. In the 17th Vivaldi’s early works invoke frost, streams and even barking dogs whereas in the 18th century Mozart gives us birdsong in a piano concerto and fire in an opera to say nothing of Haydn conjuring up great swathes of the animal kingdom in his oratorio The Creation. In the 19th century Beethoven paints the most evocative pastoral scene in his 6th symphony whilst composers as diverse as Britten, Bartok and Sibelius in the 20th century have all composed music inspired by their immediate surroundings.

If the power of the natural world to inspire artists is well known and long established, in our own time the natural world’s ability to revitalise, refresh and protect everybody’s mental health is starting to be explored and generally more widely understood. The charities Mind and The Mental Health foundation have both found periods spent in the outdoors have numerous quantifiable and measurable benefits ranging from reduction in stress and anxiety to improved sleep patterns. Perhaps the pithiest summary though comes from the American Psychological Association who describe time spent in nature as ‘a balm for our busy brains’, it is the aim of these podcasts to be an aid to that balm.

Time in nature is all well and good but what if time pressures, geographical distance, illness or mobility issues prevent you from having that experience; well spend ten minutes with these podcasts and we hope to provide a burst of those benefits from your own home. Each podcast takes the listener on an aural journey in North Yorkshire through a popular part of the county. Along the way are short sentences inspired by the mindfulness teachings of Jon Kabat Zin inviting the listener to reflect on thoughts that can bring peace and tranquillity to themselves and encouraging the wellbeing concepts of Present Moment Awareness, Non Judgement, Non Attachment, Acceptance and Beginner’s Mind.  Following these sentences are periods of soundscapes recorded on location to allow the listener to be alone with their thoughts before a 3 minute composition, inspired by the soundscape, is performed by members of Skipton Building Society Camerata bringing together the teachings, natural sounds and concepts discovered in the podcast.

So if you’re stuck inside for what every reason, have 10 minutes, find a comfy chair and please find a balm for your brain in these journeys.

Recorded in: Yordas Cave, Kingsdale

Mindfulness and Wellbeing Topics: Non-Attachment and Giving

Composer: Ben Crick

Performers: Soprano - Jane Burnell, Clarinet - Marianne Rawles, Violin - Helen Tonge, Viola - Ellis Thompson, Cello - Doug Badger

Camerata Recording: Ted Westwood and Ben Crick

Field Recordings: Ben Crick

Sound Editing: Ted Westwood

Sound Design: Ben Crick


Music can be inspired by any number of things, from people to events and from stories to communities; perhaps one of the most common inspirations though is the natural world and the environment that surrounds us every day. In the 17th Vivaldi’s early works invoke frost, streams and even barking dogs whereas in the 18th century Mozart gives us birdsong in a piano concerto and fire in an opera to say nothing of Haydn conjuring up great swathes of the animal kingdom in his oratorio The Creation. In the 19th century Beethoven paints the most evocative pastoral scene in his 6th symphony whilst composers as diverse as Britten, Bartok and Sibelius in the 20th century have all composed music inspired by their immediate surroundings.

If the power of the natural world to inspire artists is well known and long established, in our own time the natural world’s ability to revitalise, refresh and protect everybody’s mental health is starting to be explored and generally more widely understood. The charities Mind and The Mental Health foundation have both found periods spent in the outdoors have numerous quantifiable and measurable benefits ranging from reduction in stress and anxiety to improved sleep patterns. Perhaps the pithiest summary though comes from the American Psychological Association who describe time spent in nature as ‘a balm for our busy brains’, it is the aim of these podcasts to be an aid to that balm.

Time in nature is all well and good but what if time pressures, geographical distance, illness or mobility issues prevent you from having that experience; well spend ten minutes with these podcasts and we hope to provide a burst of those benefits from your own home. Each podcast takes the listener on an aural journey in North Yorkshire through a popular part of the county. Along the way are short sentences inspired by the mindfulness teachings of Jon Kabat Zin inviting the listener to reflect on thoughts that can bring peace and tranquillity to themselves and encouraging the wellbeing concepts of Present Moment Awareness, Non Judgement, Non Attachment, Acceptance and Beginner’s Mind.  Following these sentences are periods of soundscapes recorded on location to allow the listener to be alone with their thoughts before a 3 minute composition, inspired by the soundscape, is performed by members of Skipton Building Society Camerata bringing together the teachings, natural sounds and concepts discovered in the podcast.

So if you’re stuck inside for what every reason, have 10 minutes, find a comfy chair and please find a balm for your brain in these journeys.