Latest News

The Forest Bathing Institute announces launch of Forest Bathing+ nature-based wellness sessions

5th May 2022

These exciting new events launch on June 11^th 2022 at Alice Holt Forest, Farnham.

THE FOREST BATHING INSTITUTE is delighted to launch Forest Bathing+ nature based wellness sessions in forests cared for by Forestry England across the south of England.
Forest Bathing+ sessions will begin in June 2022 at Forestry England Alice Holt in Hampshire. Situated just four miles south of Farnham, Alice Holt Forest offers a variety of wellbeing activities for individuals and families to enjoy, along with over eight miles of waymarked trails through the forest that covers an impressive 2,100 acres.
Forest Bathing, also known as ‘Shinrin-Yoku’ is a mindful walk in woodland, under the canopy of the trees. In Japan and South Korea, it is a well-known public health intervention and is used for preventative healthcare, as well as to aid high blood pressure, anxiety and stress.
It has seen an increase in popularity across the UK, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, which saw a significant amount of people spending more time in nature and appreciating how beneficial it is to their health and wellbeing.
Forest Bathing+ is a comprehensive therapeutic form of forest bathing developed in co-operation with numerous universities across the UK, professors, doctors’, and scientists. At its core is the incorporation of mindfulness, so Forest Bathing+ engages with all five senses, in a structured manner, to enhance the experience and to bring about a mindful state.
The Forest Bathing+ nature sessions at Alice Holt Forest will last for two hours. Ground breaking research conducted in partnership with The Forest Bathing Institute and the University of Derby in 2019, evidenced that with just two hours of Forest Bathing+, 88% of participants reported an average 29% reduction in anxiety.
Gary Evans, Director of The Forest Bathing Institute, said, ‘We are thrilled to be working with Forestry England to deliver Forest Bathing+ nature sessions. There have been countless studies, particularly from Japan, that reveal how valuable time in nature can be. The majority of people who join our sessions are surprised at how much better they feel after only a short time with us in the forest. We designed our sessions to be accessible and approachable for a UK audience. Feel free to join us; you might be pleasantly surprised.’
Forestry England’s Wellbeing Projects Manager, Ellen Devine said; ‘Our nation’s forests are fantastic for boosting our mental and physical health. Spending time in woodlands is estimated to save the UK a staggering £185 million1 a year in mental health costs. We’re delighted to be working with The Forest Bathing Institute to provide forest bathing sessions to help people experience these benefits for themselves.’

Copyright: Johnny Hathaway, Forestry England