A former council executive who turned to nature after struggling with his mental health has developed an app to help others better appreciate the great outdoors.

Seaquer allows people to identify the trees, plants and animals they come across, tells them what birdsong they are listening to, and helps them record how it makes them feel using a “moodwheel” - saved either to their own space, like a diary, or a shared space with others.

Inventor Ben Darlington, a semi-retired software engineer from Maidstone, believes his free app will be educational, boost wellbeing and ultimately become a useful tool to the managers of our parks and green spaces, by providing much-needed data.

Mr Darlington, a former chief information officer with Essex County Council, developed the app after struggling with his own mental health.

He said: “After leaving the county council, I was involved with a couple of start-up companies.

“It was highly stressful work. At the same time, my father died and I got divorced and it all became a bit much.

“What I found helped me was going on long walks and really starting to notice nature.

“Many of us take a walk in a wood, but haven’t a clue what trees we are seeing or which birdsong we are hearing.

“Using Seaquer makes you stop and take more notice and really develop a relationship with nature which can be very calming.

“But the magic happens when we collect the photographs and recordings and turn it into eco-data that might help protect that nature in the future.

“Once sufficient people are using it, a data bank will build up which could act as an early warning to managers of our green spaces if things are going wrong.

“We think it’s a radical new first for Maidstone.

“Vibing” is the name Mr Darlington has given to the process of posting on the app both the user’s observations of nature and the way it makes them feel - the “vibe.”

But despite his profession, Mr Darlington of Allen Street, is not a fan of social media, because of its negativity.

He said: “With Seaquer, there are no likes, no followers. No judgement.

“I think this will be a really useful tool for Maidstone. Of course the more people vibing, the more useful it will become.”

To find out more, and to get a joining code, visit here.

The Seaquer app can be used for personal diaries and vibes anywhere.

At present, the shared spaces are limited to four areas in Maidstone: Whatman Park, the area around St Luke’s, Vinters Valley Nature Reserve and the Bearsted Woodland Trust.

Mr Darlington intends to expand the shared spaces to more areas over time, with the Hayle Park Nature Reserve in Tovil next on the list.