Shinrin-yoku or 森林浴 (Forest Bathing)
I do hope the Japanese characters at the top are the right ones – I got them from the website of our latest event provider!
PLEASE NOTE: this blog was written in 2019. For up to date information on Forest Bathing days at Nant y Bedd please see Workshops and Events 2022
Shinrin-yoku or Forest Bathing is becoming very popular in the UK and now it comes to Nant y Bedd Garden. It will also be at the Chelsea Flower Show, where the Duchess of Cambridge is helping to design the RHS display, including a bit for Forest Bathing! As usual we are bang up to date with all the latest trends!
It means ‘bathing’ all the senses, whilst walking slowly in the forest.
When taking in the forest atmosphere like this, the brain naturally switches off from the ‘sustained directed attention’ of life’s daily pressures. Shinrin-yoku is restorative, both mentally and physically, like a bath.
Idyllic spot for a bit of Forest Bathing
Walking in the forest in this way is not like hiking in the woods, nor indeed does it involve collecting or recording information and images like a naturalist or for social media.
You can find out a lot more about it on Carina Greenwood’s site, Forest Bathe.
Carina will be leading three groups here at Nant y Bedd, taking in our conifer woodland, riverbank and of course other parts of the garden.
Nant y Bedd 