
Improving wellbeing as a BBC Weather Watcher
It is a well known fact that spending time outside can improve our health and wellbeing, but could there be benefits from taking a camera along to photograph the weather?The answer seems to be a very decisive 'yes' from BBC Weather Watchers, an online crowd-sourcing group, set up to help showcase the best of the day's weather in pictures, across the UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands.There are now more than 355,000 members who have posted in excess of seven million weather photographs since it launched in 2015.Aside from encouraging people to get out and observe their surroundings, people also say that it has helped with depression, grief, fitness and added a new sense of purpose and pride in their lives.
The themes of this year's BBC Wellbeing week are connection, community and sharing.Many BBC Weather Watchers have been telling us these are some of the positive impacts around 'weather watching'.
'It helped us deal with grief'
Meet the Os.Alan Oxer has been a Weather Watcher for 10 years and after his photographs caught the attention of local and national TV teams, it inspired members of his family to join too.Alan's daughter, Lucy Oxer, said her 87-year-old dad got into 'weather watching' a decade after her mother died."As an ex-seaman in the merchant navy he has always been fascinated by the weather," she said. "And now he contributes not only photos, but also details from his mini weather station."He goes out come rain or shine and he swears it keeps his heart ticking over."It's been a real source of joy for him after losing Mum, looking for lovely stories, romantic descriptions, checking weather bulletins and the web each day, in case his photo is shown."Not only has his new pastime made him quite well known in his local town of Topsham in Devon, due to his photos being shown on BBC Breakfast and BBC Spotlight, but Mr Oxer's family are now following in his footsteps."We sometimes dabble too and picked up his signature handle of 'Alan O', so we also have a Lucy O, a William O and a Matt O in the south-west but we're not as prolific as Dad," said Lucy."Thank you to Weather Watchers for bringing such joy, focus and happiness to not only my dearest Dad, but the rest of us too, through him. We now see the beauty of each sky through his eyes."
Taking photographs of the weather also helped Fay Fautley from Kent cope with the grief of losing her father, 'johndar' who had been an "avid weather watcher". Fay joined BBC Weather Watchers too as she wanted to "keep his memory alive". "I started to upload my photos and low and behold I managed to get an Editor's pick for a snowy photo I took," she said. "I was absolutely over the moon as I knew my dad would have been so pleased. This was a turning point for me with my grief, a point where I started to believe I could feel happy again".
'Life is what you make it'
The benefits of walking and taking pictures has had a marked impact on some people's wellbeing, while for others it has given them a renewed sense of purpose in looking back at their photographs and recalling the memories they invoke.From the age of 22, Catherine Mayo has suffered with anxiety, depression and other health issues which meant that for a few years she was unable to leave the house.The birth of her son, who is now 16, gave her the drive to start making changes and in doing so discovered her love of photography, taking pictures when they were out and about together."I would see something wonderful in that moment and take a photo," she recalled."These photos are wonderful memories which bring a great feeling of happiness and remind me life is worth living and it's what you make it."After a brief relapse in her mental health after the birth of her daughter, she is now taking photos again."Sharing my photos and receiving positive feedback means so much to me," she said. "If I have days where I feel lost, I look through my images and smile again."
'More positive state of mind'
A lot of BBC Weather Watchers, including Catherine, found that when their pictures were used online or television it gave them a sense of pride, recognition and purpose in their photography.For Catherine it propelled her on to feature in the national papers and even winning competitions.However, Liz Scarff, found it was a way to help her through some really bad times."It's become a reason to get out in rain or shine, even when leaving home is tricky," she said."I sometimes have to kick myself out of the door for a walk but as long as I have a camera I feel happy and ready to face the day."She said it makes her take more notice of everything around her from the sky and clouds, to the light, trees and buildings and she comes home calmer and in a "more positive state of mind".And added: "It's even more rewarding when you get an Editor's Pick and see your efforts on BBC Weather!"
A lockdown lifeline
Living through lockdown brought unprecedented challenges for many of us, including Esther Johnson, who found she was unable to go on her normal runs with her friends.Instead, as she found herself running alone she decided to combine it with her passion for photography. She became a BBC Weather Watcher during the first lockdown in March 2020.Esther said it helped her state of mind and fitness at a very difficult time, plus the incentive to take really good photos that would be used by the BBC Weather team was an added bonus.
"The buzz when your photo is then actually featured on telly is great and makes it even more worthwhile," Esther said. "I even once made it onto the national weather forecast which was my goal!"Long after the periods of lockdown Esther is running with friends again and said weather watching is now a part of normal life."I obviously kept it up and now I just have to run to catch up with my friends if I stop to take a photo," she added."Recently my running friend submitted one on a run and he got featured, so I might have another convert!"
Working with BBC Weather Watchers
For the producers and presenters who use the BBC Weather Watchers website as part of their job, looking through the hundreds of pictures uploaded on a daily basis can be uplifting and inspirational. It has also become an invaluable resource for illustrating our work.Carol Kirkwood explains: "I love seeing our BBC Weather Watcher pictures first thing in the morning. They offer so many fabulous views from all around the UK." The BBC Breakfast weather presenter explains that for her "the beauty of the pictures is that you see the changing seasons and how it becomes so much darker in the winter, compared to the positivity offered by a sunny start to the day in the summer".Many of us agree with Carol that the BBC Weather Watcher pictures help us to "appreciate nature and what a beautiful world we live in".
So from providing that quiet sense of calm to becoming a bit of a celebrity in your local area, BBC Weather Watchers can work wonders for your health, wellbeing and self-esteem. If you want to join the community and share the view where you are, start here: BBC Weather Watchers.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Met Office issues SIX weather warnings for thunder, lightning, hail and floods - while massive part of country goes into drought
Britain is bracing for a weather double-whammy as the Met Office issues six separate warnings for thunderstorms, torrential rain, hail, and flash floods. While in contrast other parts of the UK are simultaneously plunged into official drought after the driest spring in over a century. Forecasters say the next three days will bring wild swings between tropical heat and violent downpours, with temperatures soaring to 30C on Friday, potentially making it the hottest day of 2025 so far, hotter than Ibiza, Mykonos, and even sunny Los Angeles. The Met Office warned that some areas could be hit by up to two inches of rain in just a few hours, with gusty winds reaching up to 50mph, lightning strikes, hail, and the risk of flooding and travel chaos. In a further blow, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued its first yellow heat-health alert of the year, running from 9pm Thursday to 8am Sunday. It covers London, the East Midlands, the South East and East of England where vulnerable people face health risks and hospitals could come under strain. 'It's all because we've got air moving in from the south, so the air is originating across Spain and Portugal and has been moving its way northwards,' said Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge. 'We're going to see increasingly humid conditions with very warm days and some quite muggy nights as well and the general gist is that western parts of the UK are likely to see the majority of the rain and the thundery showers. 'But, as we go into Friday, we could see some of that also moving across the east and south east as well for some thunder there for a time.' Thursday sees the first round of storms hitting Northern Ireland, South West England and Wales, with the Met Office predicting flash floods, power cuts and major travel disruption. Another round rolls in Friday evening, slamming south-east England and London with up to 50mm of rain in a matter of hours. The violent storms could unleash hail, lightning, and gusty winds, while heavy cloud cover and high humidity will keep things sweltering and uncomfortable overnight. Despite the washouts, Friday could still hit a scorching 30C, depending on how much sunshine breaks through the haze. The Met Office has six weather warnings currently in place: • South West England and Wales: 00:00–19:00 Thursday • Northern Ireland: 06:00–21:00 Thursday (rain) • South West England and Wales again: 18:00–23:59 Friday • South East England: 15:00 Friday – 06:00 Saturday • Western England, Wales and Southern Scotland: 00:00–18:00 Saturday Rainfall could top 10–20mm in just one hour, raising fears of flash flooding, especially in urban areas already parched from an unusually dry spring. Amid all the chaos, the Environment Agency has officially declared a drought in Yorkshire, where some areas have seen less than 50 percent of average rainfall this spring and just three-quarters of the May average. It follows a similar move in north-west England last month, and a developing drought zone in parts of the Welsh Water network. The agency warned that the prolonged dry period has drastically reduced water supplies and could pose a serious risk to wildlife, agriculture, and public health. Hosepipe bans and water restrictions may be introduced if the situation worsens. A spokesperson said: 'A drought is a prolonged dry period that reduces available water supplies and can negatively impact the environment, people and wildlife.' Friday's storms are expected to form into long bands, bringing torrential rain, strong winds, hail and lightning especially across eastern and south-eastern England. Simon Partridge added: 'We've got a very warm, humid, spell of wet weather to come.'


The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
The UK region facing water restrictions after drought declaration
Yorkshire has officially declared a drought due to critically low river flows and groundwater levels, exacerbated by one of the driest springs on record, according to the Environment Agency. The declaration follows a similar announcement for the North West in late May, encompassing areas such as Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, Cumbria, and Lancashire. The UK experienced its hottest spring on record, coupled with the driest conditions in decades, placing immense strain on crops and natural habitats, with millions of households warned to prepare for potential water restrictions this summer. Yorkshire Water warned that water restrictions are possible this summer unless the county sees "significant rainfall" in the coming months, though the declaration of drought does not immediately change the situation for customers. Scientists have warned that drought conditions will become more intense in the UK with climate change, putting strain on water resources, with reservoir levels across England falling to new lows.


The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Yorkshire enters drought after driest spring in 132 years
Yorkshire has become the second area of England to enter drought after the driest spring in 132 years. Hosepipe bans for the region could be on the horizon if there is not significant rainfall in coming weeks, as, despite recent showers, the reservoir stocks continue to dwindle. Yorkshire Water reservoir stocks dropped 0.51% over the last week to 62.3%, which is significantly below the average (85.5%) for this time of year. Last month, the north-west of England entered drought status as reservoir levels fell to half their capacity. Much of the rest of the country is in prolonged dry status, which is the step before drought. Warm and dry weather is forecast, and long-range forecasts suggest a greater-than-normal chance of a hot summer. Met Office data shows spring 2025 was Yorkshire's warmest spring for mean temperature since records began in 1884. Dave Kaye, director of water at Yorkshire Water, said: 'We had one of the driest springs on record, which has impacted our reservoir levels, meaning they are much lower than normal for this time of year. Without significant rainfall in the coming months, temporary usage restrictions are a possibility.' The impacts of drought are already being felt. Hot and dry weather can increase wildfires, and Yorkshire has seen several wildfires on the Pennine moorland, including large fires at Marsden Moor, Wessenden, and Rishworth Moor. Farmers have also reported the beginnings of crop failures. Navigation has become difficult on canals and some rivers in the region due to low water levels, and there are a number of closures and restrictions in place to preserve water across the Canal & River Trust network, predominantly on the Leeds & Liverpool canal. People across England have been asked to conserve water as summer begins amid low river flows, groundwater levels and reservoir levels. Claire Barrow, the Environment Agency's planning manager for Yorkshire, said: 'Our climate is changing, and we had 22 days of almost no recorded rainfall in May. 'While we have had some rain at the start of June, it has not been enough to reverse the impacts of the prolonged dry weather. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion 'We are working with Yorkshire Water to make sure they enact their drought plans. We also encourage people to be aware of the environmental impacts of droughts as we enter the summer period and note the small steps we can all take to save water.' Climate breakdown will make droughts more likely, scientists have said, as rainfall becomes less predictable. There have not been any major reservoirs built in England for more than 30 years, but the government has announced that it has approved two to begin construction. The Guardian reported recently that to avert a drought there would need to be rainfall at levels last seen in 2012, when record-breaking deluges caused floods across the country. This does not look likely, with hot, dry weather ahead.