Holistic Healing Therapy
Based on the Japanese art of Shinrin Yoku, Forest Bathing+ involves a slow exploration of nature through the senses. Participants are guided through a series of mindful exercises leading to an enhanced connection with nature and potentially a profoundly relaxed state. This calming and relaxing practice has been scientifically measured to have beneficial and lasting therapeutic effects.
Forest Bathing in the Surrey Hills enables people to create a deeper connection and respect for nature. This project was to run a series of sessions with vulnerable adults. The FiPL grant allowed these sessions to be run, free of charge, for participants from groups from Woking MIND, Catalyst and Halow. In addition, the funding enabled collaboration with landowners across the Surrey Hills who permitted the sessions to be held on their land, generating an additional source of income.
Participants of these sessions gave feedback on the outcomes they felt they had achieved and some of these results are outlined below.
University results from previous sessions
Associate Professor Dr Kirsten McEwan at the University of Derby has taken a look at our early data and found:
“There are statistically significant improvements in health, anxiety, nature connection and social connection after Forest bathing. These improvements gradually increased over the 3-6 weeks that people attended forest bathing sessions”.
“The greatest improvements were as follows: in week 2 nature connection increased by 89%, anxiety reduced by 69% and a health measure which assesses mobility, self-care, anxiety, depression and pain reduced by 35%. In week 1 health improved by a massive 412% and by week 5 social connection had increased by 50%.”
Participant feedback included:
“It’s been really good to get out as I don’t normally do so. It stopped me thinking about the things I normally worry about.”
“Really enjoyed it very relaxing”.
“It has been really restful because I’ve been quite depressed recently”.
This project is helping deliver the Surrey Hills Management Plan by enriching the access and enjoyment of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for all.
Project summary
| Applicant | Gary Evans, Holistic Healing Therapy Limited |
| FiPL grant awarded | £4,850 |
| Total project cost | £4,850 |
| Project start date | 18 Nov 2021 |
| Project end date | 31 Oct 2022 |
The Surrey Hills DEFRA Access Fund also funded transport to a further six-week Forest Bathing+ programme for people who have been referred via ‘Green Social Prescribing’ (GSP). Click here to view the Access Fund page.
An evaluation took place by University College London in the spring of 2023 to measure the impact of Forest Bathing+ on self-reported wellbeing within a UK population who have been referred via ‘Green Social Prescribing’ (GSP).
The report concludes fantastic results of the effect that nature has on our wellbeing, such as:
88.5% felt an improvement in positive emotions
64% felt a reduction in negative emotions
70.5% felt an improvement in generic wellbeing
“I think your attitude changes as you’ve kind of relaxed and taking some deep breaths and just enjoyed being outside… and I think you feel stronger, more able to cope with life as a result.” – P3, taking part in the Forest Bathing+ 6 week sessions
“… it’s absolutely helped me through quite a tricky time in my life…. To have that there… you know, the value of looking forward to it, doing it and then the impact after I’ve done it. I’ve definitely felt that for sure.” (P4)