Explore the great outdoors and and improve your health and wellbeing through nature.

People are being encouraged to get outside as part of Naturally Healthy Month next month.

As part of the campaign, Picnic in the Park will see events as Radipole Gardens, Weymouth, Dorchester's Borough Gardens and Durlston Country Park, Swanage.

The free family events invite everyone bring a picnic, have fun and try a new activity. There will be music, stalls and free taster sessions of local activities such as zumba, yoga, woodwork and orienteering.

Spending time outside has great health benefits, lowering blood pressure and increasing intake of vitamin D.

Public Health Dorset, along with partners, is encouraging people across Dorset to get outside for the awareness month in May.

Working with partners from Dorset Local Nature Partnership, Natural Choices, Stepping into Nature, community groups, Dorset Council and BCP Council, it is promoting a number of events and activities to get people enjoying their local areas.

People can go for a walk, run, cycle, wild swim, paddle, stroll or try gardening.

Rachel Partridge, assistant director, Public Health Dorset, said: “We are really pleased to be supporting Naturally Healthy Month. There is a great schedule of events and activities planned for people to enjoy our fantastic parks and open spaces across all of Dorset. Not only is exploring outdoors free and fun but there are many benefits to being outside such as improving physical fitness and mental wellbeing.

“Being outside supports the five steps to wellbeing which are connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give. I would encourage as many people as possible to take part in as many events as they can during May.”

Maria Clarke, Dorset Local Nature Partnership manager and co-ordinator for Natural Choices, added: “We are encouraging everyone to get outside, spend some time in nature, have fun and support your health and wellbeing. There is a lot of evidence which shows how being in nature helps our physical and mental wellbeing by being active and making us happy."

Picnic in the Park will be at:

• Durlston Country Park, Swanage, 11am -3pm, Saturday, May 4

• Radipole Gardens, Weymouth, 11am – 3pm, Saturday, May

• Borough Gardens, Dorchester 11am – 3pm, Saturday, May 18

Purbeck Pledge will be launched at the Durlston Country Park picnic. This year’s pledge is Get Outdoors, Boost Wellbeing. People can sign up to take the pledge at livewelldorset.co.uk/purbeck-pledge/

There are lots of activities for adults to get involved with during Naturally Healthy Month such as health, nature, poetry, sensory, and mindfulness walks, park yoga, gardening and conservation volunteering. All activities can be found at dorsetlnp.org.uk/naturally-healthy-month