According to Deloitte, half of millennials and Gen Zs often feel stressed or anxious. Enjoying the benefits of urban living becomes challenging when faced with pressure and competition. And the city lifestyle could be even more challenging for those who weren’t born in the city but moved there later.
While big cities like London have plenty of outdoor spaces that allow people to go for Sunday walks and unwind – it is still not a routine for most youth. In the digital era, it is much easier to communicate with others on social media and experience the world through screens, especially for those living far away from their loved ones.
An international student, Jo, says: “I used to go for walks every evening before. In London, I am not outside unless I have an errand of some sort”. Not long ago, he moved from the Norwegian island Hitra to study music in London. There are small villages nestled among the mountains, ocean and pine forests. Jo’s family home, just 10 meters from the ocean’s edge, is, as he smiles, “basically on the first line.” That is why it was a regular after-school activity to go down the ocean with friends and explore the beaches. Jo says, “We were analyzing shells and seaweed, looking for crabs and going to new areas afterwards”.
Being so close to nature, Norwegians like to go hiking. Jo’s parents are big fans of such journeys, but he is not into it. “It’s always been the same roads and places that I have already been to”, he says, “I liked more to walk around the forest. Exploring on my own was really fun”.
Moving from the quiet life on the island to the busy city changed Jo’s daily routine and connection to nature. He used to spend time outdoors almost every evening. Jo liked cycling, going for walks, or visiting his favourite place – a little mountain, on the top of which he could see all the villages. He says, “It was my own world up there. I could listen to music, read and write poetry”. There is no such thing as a quiet mountain in London, and it is indeed difficult to enjoy the city’s beauty. Jo shares, “Going to nature, to the ocean, to the forest was always an escape for me. I don’t feel free here, in London “.
“Going to nature, to the ocean, to the forest was always an escape for me “
One day, a friend from school told Jo about Telegraph Hill Park. She described the park in many details, mentioning some hidden peaceful spots. She was into Geocaching, a hobby involving an app that guides you to explore different areas and search for treasures hidden by other people. “She said it is like scavenger hunt games”, Jo explains, “with hidden caches in interesting places and rewards”.
Spontaneously, Jo and his friend decided to go on an adventure right after class. They aimed to explore a random park selected from Google Maps without prior research, and they settled on Crystal Park. The place was just about 20 minutes away from the university. “We went there just as spring started, and the atmosphere was magical,” Jo smiles.
They started with a cache behind the market but couldn’t find anything. Jo’s friend guessed it might have been taken by the dog or blown away by the wind. Disappointed but not discouraged, they continued. The next cache, hidden under a fence, was more successful. They found a small box with a magnet and replaced it with a badge.
As they moved further into the park, it became more beautiful, looking like a place from a magical fairytale. It had old woods, dinosaur sculptures, and a lake with ducks. “And then we saw parrots!” Jo smiles. ” As we found out later, there is an ecology college nearby, and there are a lot of birds living there”.
Without realizing it, they were already in the middle of the park. Jo says, “After we got to a certain point inside the woods, I finally got this feeling of freedom. We started going in different directions, looking at ponds and fields, just enjoying the time out there”. Their treasure hunt led them through a real maze, initially created for royals and later used by the Girl Scouts. Jo and his friend also stopped by a small stage by the pond, where Bob Marley once performed.
Heading back, they passed Remembrance benches. One of them was especially touching as it was dedicated to the sheepdog. It stated: “In memory of Guinness, an old English sheepdog with attitude”.
Jo shares, “I had so much fun that time; I felt close to nature again. And I am sure everyone deserves access to it”. He might have found a way to make London feel like home by going on such little journeys. “Of course, there is no wild nature in the city”, he says, “but there are a lot of gems to explore”.
“I had so much fun that time; I felt close to nature again.
JOY invites young Londoners to take a weekday journey to local parks and explore the hidden gems.