I visited Penshaw Monument for National Day of Happiness and to find out about the Lambton Worm
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00:00Reports and research consistently suggest that sunlight and exercise can really improve your mood.
00:05Exposure to sunlight boosts vitamin D production which is linked to better mood regulation.
00:10And sunlight increases the production of serotonin which contributes to feelings of well-being and happiness.
00:16Physical activity triggers the release of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that act as natural mood lifters.
00:22Regular exercise reduces the production of stress hormones like cortisol and can improve overall stress resilience.
00:28Combine the two together, outdoor exercise in the sunlight has an even more pronounced positive effect on mood and overall well-being.
00:35And of course social interaction can enhance those feelings too.
00:39But what things bring you happiness? I spoke with locals to find out.
00:43You make me happy.
00:46You make me happy too.
00:48Apple spritz makes me happy.
00:50Newcastle makes me happy.
00:52Castle makes us happy.
00:54Going out makes me happy.
00:56One thing that does make me happy is spending quality time with friends and doing things I enjoy.
01:02To be fair I'm a people pleaser so like I find in other people like that like appreciate the things that I do.
01:09I quite like that.
01:10And even just like because I noticed when I moved from my city to this city at the start not a lot of people smiled and stuff like that.
01:16And that was kind of annoying.
01:17But like as we progress for the year and it's getting sunnier a lot more people are getting happier.
01:21So I'd say the sun as well and the good weather.
01:24Being outside, being with my friends, doing stuff, banning things, I love it.
01:29I actually love it all, yeah.
01:30The sun makes me happy.
01:31Recently we've had lovely sun in Newcastle.
01:33I always come and go to the Bay Garden with the boys or finish the walk or play like football.
01:38So many agree that the sun, being outdoors and being with loved ones brings happiness.
01:43Which brings me here to Penshaw Monument, a great walking destination here in the North East and of course a cultural landmark.
01:49The monument stands on top of Penshaw Hill which overlooks the Weir Valley.
01:53It was originally built in 1844 in honour of John George Lambton, the first Earl of Durham who was a prominent politician and social reformer.
02:01Many Northerners will have heard of the tale of the Lambton Worm.
02:04The National Trust put together a trail that's approximately 2.6 miles long that will tell you the story and the locations of where the story took place.
02:12For those who haven't heard about the Lambton Worm it's a famous myth associated with of course the Lambton family.
02:19The story begins with John Lambton who catches a strange serpent-like creature and instead of killing it he throws it back into the River Weir where it's left to grow.
02:28Over time the creature referred to as the worm grows to a monstrous size and begins to terrorise the local area.
02:35The worm is said to have a massive body, a deadly venomous bite and the ability to kill livestock, destroy crops and bring havoc to the surrounding villages.
02:43As the worm continues to wreak havoc the villagers become desperate.
02:46The local legend claims that the Lambton family, due to John's failure to deal with the creature, is cursed.
02:52The curse was said to follow the family for generations with each Lambton heir facing a great peril unless they confronted and defeated the beast.