Reconnecting with nature. Reconnecting with ourselves.
In the world we live in today, humans are becoming increasingly disconnected from the natural environment.Research has shown that by reconnecting with nature, our mental and physical wellbeing significantly improves. We become less stressed, more energised and better connected with ourselves.
Slowing down, immersing ourselves in the forest and ‘bathing’ our senses amongst the trees helps to restore our body, mind and spirit.Experience the power of forest bathing for yourself across South Wales and within the ancient woodland on the stunning Gower Peninsula.
Sign up to receive a FREE 20-minute _Awakening the Senses _audio. By joining our mailing list you'll also receive a weekly dose of nature in your inbox.
Book a forest bathing session
Book a restorative forest bathing session in locations across South Wales and the stunning Gower Peninsular. Experience the scientifically proven benefits of forest bathing for your mind and body today.
Forest bathing
Forest bathing is the process of slowly and mindfully immersing your senses in the forest, beneath the tree canopy. Forest bathing is a practice with its roots in Japan where the practice of “Shinrin-yoku” began in the 1980s.Slowing down and ‘bathing’ our senses amongst the trees help to restore our body, mind and spirit. Once we settle into the forest and our mind quietens, we feel something familiar. Being in the forest feels like a returning home to ourselves and our true nature.There is an increasing amount of evidence highlighting the profound benefits to us when we nourish our relationship and our connection with nature. Forest bathing has been shown to have significant impacts on our mental and physical health.
"Rebecca is a warm, gentle and positive soul. I felt totally at ease from the moment we met until the end of the day. I would recommend everyone try forest bathing at least once, it’s not to be missed!" - Donna
Your Forest Guide
My name is Rebecca Perkins and I am a certified Nadur Forest Therapy Practitioner. I also have 15 years of experience as a wellbeing and resilience coach, author and facilitator, supporting people with their mental health.I have always known that nature heals me. I live by the coast and often head to the beach to allow nature to work its magic and soothe my mind. The woods do something similar. I go to the woods to listen to the trees, the birds, and the natural sounds that occur around me.Like a lot of us, I have had my spells of depression and anxiety. Nature truly possesses the power to heal, and have I found that getting outdoors has always helped me to reconnect with being part of nature.As a forest bathing guide, I work with others who may be in need of reconnecting with nature, to themselves and to something bigger than themselves.
Benefits of forest bathing
Forest bathing has been proven to have transformational impacts on both our mental and physical wellbeing. From reducing stress and anxiety to increasing concentration and creativity, research has shown that the benefits of reconnecting with nature are wide-ranging.
Originally developed in Japan by the Forestry Agency to tackle chronic stress among its workers, forest bathing has now been adopted around the world.Countries including Japan, South Korea, Canada and New Zealand are now even prescribing forest bathing and nature based activities in place of medication to tackle mental health issues.The UK Government has also launched a pilot to trial this approach, focusing on areas worst affected by COVID-19. Research has shown that even improving access to green spaces could save the NHS £2.1bn per year.
The benefits of forest bathing include:
Improving memory and concentration
Improving sleep quality
Boosting creativity
Increasing immune cells to fight bacteria, viruses and even tumours
Reducing stress hormones including adrenaline and cortisol
Reducing anxiety, depression, anger and mental fatigue
Reducing blood pressure and heart rate
Reducing blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes patients
According to the Mental Health Foundation, 70 million work days are lost each year due to mental health problems in the UK, costing employers approximately **£2.4 billion per year. **Forest bathing and reconnecting with nature is therefore a highly cost-effective solution to this problem.
Read the research:
- The effects of forest bathing on anxiety in adults: An integrative review - Leibold 2021, Song et al., 2020
- Forest therapy can prevent and treat depression: Evidence from meta-analyses - Rosa et al., 2020
- A Pragmatic Controlled Trial of Forest Bathing Compared with Compassionate Mind Training in the UK: Impacts on Self-Reported Wellbeing and Heart Rate Variability - McEwan et al., 2021
- Beyond restorative benefits: evaluating the effect of forest therapy on creativity - Yu and Hsieh, 2020
- Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function - Li, 2010
- Effects of forest bathing on pre-hypertensive and hypertensive adults: a review of the literature - Yau and Loke, 2020
- A forest bathing trip increases human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins in female subjects - Li et al., 2008
- Effect of forest bathing on sleep and physical activity - Kwanda et al., 2010
What we do
Experiences
Find out more about the restorative forest bathing experiences we offer for individuals, groups and organisations.
Programmes
Explore the range of online programmes we offer to support and guide you as you reconnect with nature and yourself.
Gift vouchers
Give someone the gift of slowing down and reconnecting with nature and themselves. Whether it's for a group outing or to book a private 1-1 session, get in touch to request a gift voucher.
Forest bathing experiences
Individuals and groups
Forest bathing benefits people of all ages, backgrounds and occupations. Find out more about the forest bathing experiences we offer for individuals and groups and book up a session today.
Organisations
From leadership retreats to small group sessions, we offer bespoke packages for organisations to reconnect employees to nature which in turn boosts engagement, productivity and creativity.
"Forest bathing is a grounding experience: relaxing and meditative. Rebecca immediately instils a sense of calm and ‘slowing down’, introducing exercises that connect you to nature and remind you of the part you play in it. Such an enjoyable two hours that leaves you feeling focused and tranquil." - Sam
What to expect
Forest bathing provides an opportunity for us to slow down, immerse ourselves in the forest and ‘bathe’ our senses amongst the trees. This enables us to actively slow our minds and find peace and connection with the natural environment.A forest bathing session involves a guided, mindful walk amongst the trees which usually lasts between 2-3 hours. What sets forest bathing apart from hiking is that the pace is slow, the distance is not very far, and the intention is to reconnect with nature and ourselves.During the walk, the forest bathing guide will guide participants through a series of mindful invitations, such as focusing on their different senses and becoming more aware of their surroundings. At various points throughout the session, participants will also be invited to pause, sit and reflect.
These practices help to move people out of their own mind and into the environment around them.A forest bathing session ends with an informal tea ceremony with herbal tea and some snacks. It’s a lovely way to bring the session to a close, to share some highlights together and begin the transition out of the forest and back into everyday life.
Book a forest bathing session
"A lovely way to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday morning. Forces you to slow down and feel gratitude for nature. Gives you time to focus on what’s really important and leaves you with a feeling of calmness. Simple but magical." - Sharon
National Botanic Garden of Wales
We run regular forest bathing sessions for individuals and groups at the National Botanic Garden of Wales. Find out more about what to expect and how to book your place.
**Clyne Valley, Gower **
Join us for a forest bathing session in the stunning and secluded Clyne Valley woodland in Gower. Follow the link below to find out more and book your place.
Monthly Subscription - Gower
Join one of our regular forest bathing sessions in the stunning Clyne Valley woodland on a monthly basis to nourish your mind, body and soul. Follow the link below to sign up.
Private 1-1 and group bookings
We offer private 1-1 and group forest bathing sessions across South Wales. Get in touch to make an enquiry and find out more about what we offer.
Buy a gift voucher
Give someone the gift of slowing down and reconnecting with nature and themselves. Get in touch to request a gift voucher for group and private forest bathing sessions.
Programmes
Awakening the Senses
This 10-part audio guide will take you by the hand as you explore and reawaken your physical and non-physical senses. This guide will help you to reconnect not only with your natural surroundings, but also with yourself.
Awakening the Senses audio guide
This audio guide is for you:
If you’d like to experience a deeper connection to nature
If you want to feel less stressed and anxious in your daily life
If you want to feel more rooted and grounded in nature
If you’re longing to feel more relaxed and peaceful within yourself
If you want to slow your busy mind
"I love this guided meditation through nature and I will definitely revisit it again. Rebecca's voice is so soothing and inviting, you can’t help but be opened up to a deeper sense of relaxation and calm." - Natalie
Tell me more
We are becoming increasingly disconnected from nature. It’s a fact. Even when we're out and about, how many times have we been so caught up in our own thoughts or deep in conversation that we miss the birdsong, the bluebells coming into flower, the first leaf to fall in autumn, the smell of the air?Reconnecting with nature has been scientifically proven to benefit both our physical and mental wellbeing, and our senses play a vital role in this process.When we think about our senses, we often think of our five physical senses: hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch. But some say that we have as many as 21 in total.
This 10-part audio guide will take you by the hand as you explore and reawaken your physical and non-physical senses. It will help you to reconnect not only with your natural surroundings, but also with yourself.
Here's what we'll cover:
Day 1: Introduction and hearing
Day 2: Touch
Day 3: Smell and taste
Day 4: Sight
Day 5: Intuition
Day 6: Connection
Day 7: Heart
Day 8: Awe
Day 9: Gratitude
Day 10: CompassionEach of the audios will last between 5-10 minutes and will be your guide when you’re out spending time in nature.
Your investment
A one-off payment of £25 will give you lifetime access to the Awakening the Sense audio guide.Once you have signed up, you will receive the first audio straight away. You will then receive an email 24 hours later with the next recording.Signing up will also automatically add you to our mailing list which will give you access to news, offers and our Weekly Dose of Nature emails.
Reconnecting Children in Nature
At a time when it may feel harder to encourage young people away from devices and out into the natural world, you may be interested in finding new ways to deepen their connection to nature.Why is nature connectedness so important? It may be obvious, but when we feel connected to something, we naturally want to look after it. So developing our young people’s connection to the world around them is essential.The University of Derby is doing some amazing nature connection work. One of their studies showed that children with a strong connection to nature do better in their school exams. They have also created a wonderful booklet in conjunction with The National Trust in which they show the benefits of getting closer to nature and how it helps both our health and the wellbeing of our precious planet.Feel free to explore the resources below to find new and fun ways to help the children in your life to reconnect with nature.
Reconnecting Children in Nature - Week 1
What you’ll need:
A journal - the bigger the better! Make sure it’s large enough to write, draw, press flowers and stick treasure in.
Pens, pencils, paints, sticky tape etc.
A childlike sense of awe, curiosity and an open mind!
P.S. you don’t need to have children to do this!
Have a read of these statements:*
I always find beauty in nature
I always treat nature with respect
Being in nature makes me very happy
Spending time in nature is very important to me
I find being in nature really amazing
I feel part of nature
Use these statements as a starting point for conversation and play with your children.
Here are some questions you might like to explore with these statements:
What does beauty in nature mean to you? What does it look like? When do you notice it? How does it make you feel?
What does respecting nature mean? How do you respect nature? How could you respect it even more? What daily actions could you take to show your respect?
How does being in nature make you happy? How can you tell? What do you like doing to show your happiness?
What’s important about being in nature for you? What’s it like when you’re not in nature? How does that make you feel? What do you like most about being in nature?
Being in nature is amazing! What do you find most amazing about it? How can you express it? How do you show gratitude for it?
It’s wonderful to feel part of nature. How do you experience it? What does being connected to nature look like for you?
Now get creative in your journal!
*Miles Richardson, Professor of Human Factors and Nature Connectedness at the University of Derby offered these statements to participants of a nature connectedness survey.
Reconnecting Children in Nature - Week 2
This week we'll be focusing on awakening the senses. Each day for the next seven days, try going outside and focusing on one particular sense with your children. Below are some prompts and questions for you to explore.
P.S. you don’t need to have children to do this!
Sound: Get really really still and notice what sounds you can hear. What’s natural and what’s manmade? Where are they coming from? Who or what’s making them? Can you hear sounds within your own body? What does the wind sound like? What do leaves rustling sound like?
Touch: Find a tree with lots of texture, close your eyes and feel your way around it. Use your hands, your arms, your body. What do you notice? Walk barefoot on the grass at different times of day and during different types of weather. What do you notice? How gently can you touch a flower? What do you notice when you explore fallen twigs or dead leaves with your hands?
Sight: You could lie on the grass, or sit somewhere comfortable and look up at the trees, the clouds, the movement of the leaves in the trees. What’s in the foreground, what’s in the distance?
Taste: Can you taste the air if you breathe in through your mouth? Wild blackberries are ripening now, have you tried them? Have a picnic outside, does food taste different when you’re eating it outdoors?
Smell: Be like a dog with its head in the air taking big sniffs of air, what do you smell? What does nature smell like early in the morning or late at night? What can you smell when it’s raining? Scoop up a pile of plant debris, leaves and twigs, what does it smell like?
Reconnecting Children in Nature - Week 3
This week we'll be focusing on finding treasure and creating nature art. I love this activity and do it every time I’m out in the woods. The next time you're out in nature, explore how you can create art using the natural environment and see what natural 'treasures' you can find.
P.S. you don’t need to have children to do this!
Focus on the little things. Get down on your hands and knees if that feels good to do. What do you notice?
What do you and your children think of as treasure?I love collecting things like a bird’s feather, colourful leaves, an acorn, an empty bird’s egg, lichen or moss covered twigs, pebbles and shells on the beach, or seaweed. It’s amazing what you come across when you’re out looking.
Try making a collection of objects you've found that have meaning for you.
Now try creating some art on the ground in the woods, on the grass in a park or on the beach using the things you’ve found.
Now explore all this in your journal. You can write about the experience as well as sticking in the things you’ve found.
Reconnecting Children in Nature - Week 4
This week we'll be focusing on nature-inspired poetry. I’ll often read some poetry when taking a group out forest bathing.Do you or your children have a favourite nature poem? Have you read them outside in nature? What do you notice?
Creating your own poetry
One way to write poetry in nature is to simply begin with one person writing a single sentence on a piece of paper about what they’re noticing in nature.You could write about what you’re grateful to nature for, or what you’re aware of in nature today, or what you love about nature in this season.Fold over what was written and pass it on to the next person. They then write a sentence without looking at what was written before. Carry on until the page is full. Then read out the poem.
Inspiration
Nature encourages our imagination. What happens when we spend time looking up into the trees with the wind blowing or watching the movement of a leaf on the stream?How about writing a letter to our favourite tree or telling the story of the leaf you’ve noticed floating on the water? What story does the pebble you’ve found have to share with you?You’ll find wonderful inspiration here in the Children’s Poetry Archive and this is a perfect poem to be read in the woods or on the beach.Now explore all this in your journal!
Sign up to receive a FREE 20-minute Awakening the Senses audio. By joining our mailing list you'll also receive a weekly dose of nature in your inbox.
Reconnecting Children in Nature - Week 5
This week we'll be focusing on noticing three good things in nature.The University of Derby is doing some amazing nature connection work. One of their studies showed that children with a strong connection to nature do better in their school exams. They also explored at what age children’s connection to nature was at risk of dropping off.
Noticing three good things
Noticing three good things in nature on a daily basis is such a beautifully simple way of improving your connection to nature.You can do this anywhere, in the city, in your home, in the woods, at the beach. We can notice nature everywhere.Research shows us that the more we notice and appreciate nature the more connected we feel to it.
What to do
Keep a note this week in your journal of three good things in nature every day. You could draw, photograph, paint, write or even just chat about what you’re noticing.The more connected we feel with nature the better we feel. The more connected we feel, the more meaning it brings to our lives. The more connected we are to nature, the better we’ll take care of it. Nature is our home after all. We are part of nature, not separate from it.By noticing three good things in nature we will also connect with our children, showing them the importance of nurturing this important relationship.Get creative and most of all have fun!
Sign up to receive a FREE 20-minute Awakening the Senses audio. By joining our mailing list you'll also receive a weekly dose of nature in your inbox.
Get in touch
Get in touch to find out more about what we offer and how you can get involved.Email: hello@forest-connections.comInstagram: forest_connections_
Sign up to receive a FREE 20-minute Awakening the Senses audio. By joining our mailing list you'll also receive a weekly dose of nature in your inbox.
Sign up to receive a FREE 20-minute Awakening the Senses audio.
By joining our mailing list you'll also receive a weekly dose of nature in your inbox.
Terms and conditions
Cancellations & refunds
Events will go ahead in most weathers. However, if the weather forecast is particularly bad (high winds, persistent rain or thunder and lightening), I will have to postpone the session for health and safety reasons and refunds will be given. If the weather turns unexpectedly bad during a session, the walk may be cut shorter than initially planned, however, no refunds will be given.
Sessions generally require a group of at least four people. If there are fewer than four, I may rearrange the session.
I reserve the right to cancel a session if there are only males booked on, for personal safety reasons.
If I cancel the session for any reason, you can rebook or receive a full refund.
If you cancel 48 hours or more in advance of the event's start time, you will be given the option to either re-book or receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 24-48 hours in advance of the event's start time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel less than 24 hours in advance of the event's start time, no refund will be given.
If a change of location for a walk is required due to forestry operations at short notice, participants will be able to attend at the replacement venue or at another event at any time. Unfortunately, as this would be outside of our control, refunds will not be provided.
Prices
Prices are correct as listed on the website's booking page.
Prices for private events will reflect the specifics of the agreement signed by both parties.
Prices for corporate wellbeing events will reflect the specifics of the contract of work agreed with both parties.
Gift vouchers must be used within a year of purchase.
Discount codes run for fixed periods of time and cannot be used outside of those periods.
If a payment schedule is agreed, it must be adhered to. The agreement will include details of late payments.
Responsibilities
Forest bathing sessions are open to anyone over the age of 14 unless otherwise stated.
It is the participant's responsibility to use their own judgement when attending a forest bathing session. This includes taking into account physical fitness levels and any medical conditions.
Participants must also bring suitable, adequate clothing, including appropriate footwear, extra layers and waterproofs.
Participants must respect the forest by not leaving any trace of their visit and doing no harm to anything on any forest bathing walk.
Forest Connections is insured and has public liability insurance of £6 million.
All forest bathing guides are first aid qualified.
Risk assessments are conducted at all sites where forest bathing walks are held. However, it is the participant's responsibility to take all necessary precautions to avoid accident or injury.
Permission is always obtained by land owners and authorities to use any land that we work on.
Disclaimer
Forest Connections cannot be held accountable for the achievement of the health benefits as listed on the website.
All content is subject to copyright and must not be replicated or used elsewhere.
Sign up to receive a FREE 20-minute Awakening the Senses audio. By joining our mailing list you'll also receive a weekly dose of nature in your inbox.