Sunday was the last day of the Bayfield Hall Sculpture Trail, an annual trail I curate in North Norfolk, so I have been spending the week tidying up all the loose ends and making sure that sculptures are returned to artists or settled into their new homes. The site at Bayfield Hall is steeped in history with the ruins of St Margaret’s Church in the grounds and the Glaven, a chalk stream, running through the valley. The trail occurs in the autumn and although the weather can be challenging, and we usually have a storm during the trail, the colours of the mature gardens in the autumn are magical.
Bayfield Sculpture Trail has been running for 4 years and it’s sister trail in Raveningham, South Norfolk, has been running for 9 years and a further 3 years in Earsham, both in the Waveney Valley. There are so many things that I find fulfilling about running the two trails: working with contemporary artists, shaping the sites and designing each trail, supporting artists to create work in an outdoor setting, creating a magical space in nature for people to visit, seeing young visitors interact with and discuss contemporary art, building a creative community, making contemporary art accessible in so many ways. The list really could go on and I could write a book about the projects and benefits of showing art in nature. However, the main thing that I really notice in almost every visitor is a change of pace… Something about them is changed by the experience of spending time walking the trails and by the time they leave the majority of visitors look calmer, happier and slightly floaty! I love to see this and feel that the combination of beautiful natural surroundings and looking at art are the magic ingredients for wellbeing. My sister sent me a link to a podcast which I listened to earlier today and heard for the first time about ‘fractal dimensions in nature’ and the science behind the positive impact of spending time in nature on our bodies.
The podcast was on BBC Sounds hosted by two sibling doctors ‘What’s Up Docs?’ and the episode was ‘Is Nature Good For You?‘. I was slightly sceptical about it being very interesting as I am a person who lives very close to nature and the changing seasons and unequivocally believe in the power of nature on our positive wellbeing. I listened to the podcast whilst doing my admin but became really interested in the research and input from their guest Kathy Willis, Professor of Biodiversity at Oxford University. They talked about the way that being in a natural environment for even a short amount of time positively impacts our physical and mental health. I have been walking daily on the marshes near me and find a sense of calm as I get further from the road and further into the marsh. The combination of the earthy autumnal smells, the sound of the leaves rustling in the wind, the colours as the light reflects off the river or breaks through the trees, the sounds of wildlife going about their business… each of these is picked up by my senses and helps to calm my mind and distance it from stresses even just for a short time.
Beccles Marsh Trail – storm approaching, stunning light but I forgot my raincoat and got drenched shortly after this!
The discussions between the doctors and professor was not surprising to me until they started talking about Fractal Dimensions in nature and something clicked, almost a realisation of what is it that I am so drawn to in nature and why I search out compositions in the landscape. Also, perhaps, part of the reason for the relaxed state of visitors to the Sculpture Trails who have spent anywhere between 45 mins to 3 hours walking slowly through natural spaces with a high level of Fractal Dimensions as well as the sensory information, all of which act as relaxants on the body and mind.
Weavers Way footpath Suffolk.
According to Professor Willis there have been studies which show that a particular type of landscape with a certain Fractal Dimension value was the most beneficial: open natural space broken up with a few trees, areas of sky, perhaps reflections, repeating natural patterns. All of these things are what I spend my time searching for on walks and with students as we approach drawing in landscape but now I have a name for it, a scientific backing to the felt sense that I have in these spaces. We have basically come to the same conclusion! I spend time in nature because it feels good, I curate Sculpture Trails because I can see the benefit to visitors, artists and can feel the benefit myself spending time working on the sites, I draw in the marshes because it is the best feeling in the world.
I don’t necessarily need to be told that the patterns in nature are scientifically proven to be beneficial to humans as I trust my instincts which have told me this my whole life. It did, however, feel a bit like joining up the dots and definitely helps explain the thousands of chilled out visitors I see leaving the Sculpture Trails at the end of a happy, fulfilling day of nature and art. I highly recommend getting out for a walk in your nearest park, footpath, wild area and just taking time to look, listen and sense the space, make the most of the changing season.
Willow, pencil on paper, Sarah Cannell, October 2025.
Wishing you all a creative Autumn and if you are interested in seeing my creative progress or joining a workshop at Raveningham then sign up to my mailing list or follow me on instagram @sarahcannellartist
Beccles Marsh Trail – Autumn 2026