Botanical Gardens

Gardens for wellbeing

Lettuce sea slug

Art and nature

Giant barrel sponge Xestospongia muta low res

Beachcombing

Biodiversity and wellbeing

We all need Montserrat’s biodiversity to be healthy. Hummingbirds need plenty of flowers to feed from. They use different plants to build nests for our eggs and babies, and use spider silk to make them strong. They build nests in trees that will keep their babies safe from other animals.

People need plants for food as well, and some people eat other animals. Wood from trees is used to build homes. Many plants in Montserrat are used as medicine. The first people to live on Montserrat also needed biodiversity to stay healthy.

Biodiversity also makes us happy. The environment we live in and nature around us affect our wellbeing. It’s good to watch the sea, smell flowers, or hear birds singing. In this section of the website, we’ll explore how nature helps our wellbeing.

Female Antillean Crested Hummingbird in her nest
Little Bay

How nature helps

Nature can help us feel better in lots of ways.  Young people in Montserrat shared what connected them to nature:

"The last time I felt connected to nature was when I hiked to Dry Waterfall and I felt calm and serene."
"When I planted my first pepper tree and a couple months later I was eating my own peppers."
"Walking in the evening, late at night and early morning."
"When I am drawing I tend to go outside and lay on the ground to get a sense of inspiration and tranquility and while doing this I feel as if I am one with nature/mother nature."
"There was a time I climbed my mango tree in front my house and when I got high enough I saw the beautiful mountains, trees and flowers with all the birds flying in the sky. It was very calming and I felt so connected to nature in that moment."
"Hiking, animals, plants, lakes."
"When I went on the Dry Waterfall hike."
"When going on dry waterfall nature trails and seeing the birds and other animals."
"When my family and I go hiking."
"Waking up in the morning and seeing the green trees."
"The time where I felt close to nature was when I was 3-5 playing outside in my backyard."
"It's when I'm taking a hike in nature and the tree moves in the wind and the sounds of the different animals."
"That time I feel connected to Nature would be when I went on a hike and I started to appreciate the beautiful island of Montserrat."
"When I was sitting at the beach I felt the waves and listened to the crashes of the waves, the snapping of the crab pinchers and the singing of birds, I felt at ease and calm as the salty air blew against my face."
"When I went on a hike where I saw different kinds of animal."
"The last time I felt connected to Nature is when I went outside and played with dirt and made fake food with plants."
"I felt connected to nature when I went on hikes."
"When I go exploring."
Previous
Next

Activity: Me and biodiversity

How do you fit into Montserrat's biodiversity? (Grades 1-6)

Activity: Make your own biodiversity rainbow

Antillean crested hummingbird

Home