對我們來說，適應英國生活的其中一個轉捩就是在頭一、二年機緣巧合地參與了當地活動，那讓我們在這片新土壤，能好好的跟大自然和環境連結。包括社區農田的義工工作；一些團體舉辦的wellbeing和nature walk活動；也有一些關於春分、秋收等森林節慶活動；由農場辦的wildlife活動；關於foraging和farm to table的煮食活動；還有森林浴等等。在那期間，我們對英國文化更了解，對大自然認識更多，也遇到很多獨特又和善的人，他們一般都相當有生命力，主張推動社會共融，與身體、土地、野生動物很連結，從他們身上，會看到一般城市生活以外的另一種生活態度，那讓人嚮往。
Participating in local activities during our first two years in the UK was key to helping us adapt to our new life. These community-based experiences connected us with nature and the local environment. We volunteered at community farms, joined wellbeing and nature walk groups, and attended seasonal forest festivals that took place around the spring and autumn equinox. There were also opportunities to learn about wildlife, try foraging and farm-to-table cooking, and practice forest bathing. Through these diverse activities, we gained a deeper understanding of British culture, developed a greater appreciation for nature, and met many kind, passionate people. They advocate for social inclusion and demonstrate a close connection to the land and its wildlife – providing us with an appealing alternative to typical urban living.
在Bristol南方的Somerset有一個在Chew Magna的農田 —— The Community Farm，他們是非牟利組織，主要賴以有心人捐款和義工農夫幫忙下營運，他們售賣的蔬菜包是每月放入當造蔬菜直接送抵客人家中。我們在英的第一個夏天和秋天，大約每隔一個週末就到田裡幫忙，試過插苗、除雜草、翻土、收割。能一整天實在地蹲在土地上為蔬菜水果埋頭工作，實在令人開懷。他們還會每年舉辦wildlife celebration活動，教育大家保育大自然、保持花園的生物多樣性，例如badger、hedgehog、owl和fox的棲息地。
In the Somerset region south of Bristol, there is The Community Farm in Chew Magna that operates as a non-profit, relying on donations and volunteer farmers. They sell seasonal produce packages delivered directly to customers’ homes. During our first summer and autumn in the UK, we volunteered at the farm about every other weekend, helping with tasks like planting seedlings, weeding, tilling the soil, and harvesting. Working in the expansive farmland to grow vegetables and fruits was a truly uplifting experience. The farm also hosts an annual wildlife celebration event, educating visitors about conserving nature and maintaining the biodiversity of local gardens – including the habitats of badgers, hedgehogs, owls, and foxes.
It was at this community farm that we also participated in an eight-session wellbeing program organized by a group called EcoWild. Instructor Emily would lead us in stretching, walking meditations, and tuning into the voices of our bodies on the farm’s vast grasslands. We would then join the volunteer farmers in the fields, while Emily and some participants prepared lunch in a yurt using the farm’s fresh produce. It was a blissful moment to share this nourishing meal together after a day of work. Over the course of the eight sessions, Emily also took us foraging in the nearby forest. She taught us about the natural resources, showed us how to identify and harvest edible plants, and guided us in listening to the birdsong. We even made dream catchers from willow branches.
有次春分，跑到EcoWild的基地Greyfield Wood參加他們的春分森林聚會，一同在野外唱歌烤薯仔牽手跳舞，迎接白天和黑夜等分的一天。Emily帶領大家哼唱了一首歌：「Warm Fire, Strong Wind, Tall Tree, Deep Water, I can feel it in my body, I can feel it in my souls.」
Each time we immersed ourselves in the farm’s rhythms—devoting our efforts to cultivating the land, nourishing food, and helping farmers and other participants—it evoked a profound awareness of being alive in the moment. Though we sometimes felt physically drained, our minds were always left in a relaxed state. After our communal lunches, Emily would guide us through meditations to cultivate gratitude for the food. She encouraged us to deeply listen, observe, and feel the flow of the nourishment through every part of our bodies. During one exercise where we tuned into both external sounds and internal bodily sensations, I experienced a profound sense of oneness. The realization hit me that the body is not ours alone, but part of the greater universe. The universe is not distant, but contained within us. With tears in my eyes, I felt that our connection to nature transcends the confines of time—the length and sequence of our lives becomes meaningless when we are so intimately attuned to the rhythms of the natural world.
Once during the spring equinox, we attended EcoWild’s seasonal forest gathering at their home base, Greyfield Wood. We sang songs, roasted potatoes, held hands and danced, welcoming the return of equal day and night. Emily led us in a chant:
“Warm Fire, Strong Wind, Tall Tree, Deep Water, I can feel it in my body, I can feel it in my soul.”
In our interview with Emily after completing yet another EcoWild activity, we shared that in Hong Kong, people often try various methods to heal their inner wounds, traumas, and deficiencies. While they can sometimes identify the source of their pain, they struggle to find lasting healing or awakening. However, during this year of immersing ourselves in forest and field activities, a profound sense of healing emerged. By emptying ourselves and fully engaging with nature — cultivating the land, cooking with the fresh produce, listening and observing — we experienced a profound release. We let go of our attachments and found a profound awareness and acceptance of the present moment. Our bodies felt unusually light. Rather than relying solely on logic, we found that simply wandering in nature, taking in the scenery, and physically connecting with the earth, the plants, and the sea could facilitate a healing that transcended the intellectual, as if the human troubles that once weighed on us had quietly dissipated.
