Nature holds a particular place in my heart

I moved to Turku in 2016 to start a PhD with the mindset that I’d come here, get the degree, and move on. It didn’t take long for that to change, and now I couldn’t imagine living anywhere but Finland. There are so many wonderful things about this country that I could focus on, but the nature holds a particular place in my heart. A short journey out from the centre of Turku is all it takes to get from city-life to serene peace, be it into the forests to look for mushrooms or berries, out to the shoreline to swim, or to the beguiling atmosphere of a Finnish swamp. I live a bit outside of the city now, so getting from the front door into the nearby woods takes no time at all. Each season brings its own kind of beauty, and words can’t really do them justice.

It isn’t just the scenery that makes Finland such a great place for nature-lovers though. From taking the dog out and being rewarded with a glimpse of an elusive moose to watching snakes bask in the afternoon sunshine to observing young red squirrels chasing each other through the trees, every walk has the potential for a captivating encounter with the local wildlife. As a way to clear the mind and lift the spirits, there is nothing better.