2019 was an important year for the Forest Bathing Institute, with some big milestones along the way, for us and for Forest Bathing in the UK. Here are just some of the highlights from the year.
We’ve given numerous Interviews throughout the year, and media attention on forest bathing is growing, which is a great sign. To name just a handful, we were featured in the Guardian, the Observer, on BBC Radio Solent, BBC Radio Dorset, and in the BBCs ‘The Good Life’, due to air in April 2020.
We also made strides towards Forest bathing being a recognised form of preventative care and a socially prescribed service via the NHS.
Solid scientific research continues to back what many of us have known for a long time – that spending time in the forest is good for your health and wellbeing!
Below is a very brief roundup of what we’ve achieved in 2019, and work that we look forward to continuing in to 2020 and beyond.
April:
A major milestone for Forest Bathing came on the 18th of April, when we held the Sherwood Forest initial equipment test with the University of Derby team.
This paved the way for studies conducted in July, with Dr. Kirsten McEwan from the University of Derby, who conducted the studies with us, commenting “I thought I knew how to relax, now I know how to relax”.
You can read more on that in the July update below.
May:
May was a busy month rolling out Forest Bathing+ nationally for the RSPB, Bedfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Nottinghamshire, Dorset and Somerset.
We were also featured on BBC Three Counties radio.
Gary made a slightly daunting but extremely positive presentation on May 24th to Frimley Park hospital, addressing 40 – 50 doctors.
On May 29th, we began setting up a University study into the benefits of Forest Bathing+ compared to indoor mindfulness.
June:
June 30th brought the First UK physiological replication of a Japanese Forest Bathing science trial.
July:
The Nature Connections conference in July was a wonderful opportunity for us to meet and interact with a number of high level decision makers in the Nature Connection research community. Following on from April’s equipment tests, July brought our first Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Blood Pressure (BP) studies with the University of Derby.
We conducted 4 sessions around the 2019 Nature connections conference. Each session involved 10-12 people with 8 people in each session wearing HRV monitors. (Please see below for the initial results).
Why Forest Bathing+ ?
The intervention is termed Forest Bathing+ as it offers more mindfulness elements than would be traditional in Japanese Shinrin-Yoku. This involved moving slowly through woodland, stopping to observe surroundings using all of the senses, and engaging in slow relaxing breathing and mindfulness exercises.
Forest Bathing+ also focuses on the quality of the environment used, distinguishing between secondary and ancient woodland. Ancient Woodland has richer and more diverse flora and fauna to aid relaxation and recovery.
The session lasted two hours, conducted in semi-ancient woodland in Derbyshire, and led by two qualified practitioners from the Forest Bathing Institute who guided participants in mindful appreciation of woodland surroundings.
A snapshot of the initial Profile of Mood States (POMS) Data is listed below, with more detail to follow in 2020 with the publication of the official paper. We are very pleased with how many different areas FB+ appears to cover.
Results
A repeated measures MANOVA (Multivariate Analysis of Variance) was used to assess any differences in participants scores between baseline and post-intervention.
There was a statistically significant difference in participant scores between baseline and post-intervention. Participants scores improved on measures of safe and relaxed positive affect, compassion for others and from others, rumination on problems, nature connection and pro-environmental attitudes, and mood disturbance – notably depression, anger, tension, confusion and fatigue. The HRV data are still being processed for analysis and results will follow.
Official paper to follow in 2020.
Following this study, we had more positive results for Forest Bathing+ in July, as a meeting with Waverley Borough Council on Tuesday 9th saw TFBI accepted for social prescribing by the Guildford Borough. As social prescribing is a relatively new service we are currently exploring how Forest Bathing+ can be implemented across the Guildford Borough, and will continue to update you on progress through 2020.
On July 17th we had a great meeting with Rob Fairbanks, Director of Surrey Hills Area of Natural Beauty (AONB).
August:
In August we held a Forest Bathing+ training week for our new team, and we will be telling you more about them, and asking them to share insights on their experiences of nature and Forest Bathing+ in upcoming blog posts.
We also gave an international interview to JWT Intelligence media, based in New York, USA.
September:
In September we presented a Case study interview for the University of Surrey Symposium “Our Natural Health Service”.
October:
October was full of rewarding sessions and training. Autumn is also a good time to take stock and start talking about the future, and we met with Guildford council at the end of October to discuss forest bathing and suggestions for the future, presenting Forest Bathing+ to Guildford council’s rural economic group. We’re very pleased to continue to have great cooperation and discussions with local government.
October 3rd – Children with learning difficulties Forest Bathing+ session run for the Sheriff of Surrey
October 5 – 7th Meditation and Mindfulness training for our new team. Key elements to their training to enable them to give the best Forest Bathing+ experience to others, while also looking after themselves.
October 22nd brought a Meeting at the UK’s most prestigious natural location – more news on this coming soon!
On October 28th we had an extremely productive meeting with Guildford Council – an Overview of Forest Bathing+ and suggestions for the future.
November:
On November 20th we joined Guildford council mental health forum to further discuss social prescribing, and we will continue to report on our progress in this area.
On November 25th we started discussion with the University of Bournemouth, and on November 27th we were featured and Exhibited at the University of Surrey Symposium “Our Natural Health Services” with Dame Penelope Keith, DBE and leading academic researchers.
Laying the Foundations for Movement for Mind
Many people will know the ASICS brand, but did you know they were founded on the philosophy “Sound Mind, Sound Body”?
Gary joined a team from ASICS in Amsterdam as a consultant on nature and health to explore the question “How do you turn a theory – a research-based idea about how to improve mental wellbeing – in to something practical?
“No-one was afraid of a little vulnerability and the whole workshop operated in that spirit of respectful positivity. We talked about how to make mindfulness accessible to the yoga-phobic and how a mixed ability group can run or walk together with no-one left behind. About the simple things nature offers us in every space and how to allow ourselves to notice them. We talked for hours about encouraging people to open up in a natural way and removing pressure while retaining a challenge.”
Find out more here:
https://www.asics.com/gb/en-gb/mk/movementformind/article/laying-the-foundations-for-movement-for-mind
November 28th saw Day one of filming with the BBC at Newlands Corner, a wonderful example of ancient woodland, and a fitting place to spend day 1 of filming.
December:
Birtley House Forest Bathing with young adults and the BBC – a truly inspiring experience that felt like a gift to round off the year.
Our time spent with a small group of young adults with learning and additional needs, and Reverend Katie Bottley for BBC1 Filming for BBC1 in the grounds of Birtley House was one of our most moving and rewarding experiences to date.
The event touched everyone involved, and is definitely recommended viewing when it comes out in April, for those who want to understand more about the benefits of Forest Bathing. Of course, the best way to understand the benefits of Forest Bathing+ is to join one of our guides and experience the benefits for yourself!
You can see the full event report here, including heartfelt thanks and our hope to reach more of the people that need it most in 2020.
Last but by no means least, in the second half of 2019 we expanded our organisation dramatically. We now have a solid team of people helping us with numerous different facets of growing the awareness of Forest Bathing+. We will be updating the website with all of our new team members very soon. Exciting times lie ahead!
Looking back, Looking forward
2019 has been a huge year for us, laying the foundations for 2020 and beyond, and we are excited about the next chapter, publishing the results of ongoing research, continuing to collaborate with others, and of course reaching people that need it and helping people feel the benefits of Forest Bathing+ for themselves.
Throughout 2020 we will continue to research, practice and promote the benefits of Forest Bathing+ and mindful, sustainable living, and continue important conversations on biodiversity, ancient woodland and human health (mental and physical), with a strong basis in science.
We hope you will venture outside in January, and we will be publishing posts on how to wrap up warm and reap the benefits at this time of year, as well as how you can join us in our Forest Bathing introduction sessions. You can find details, and join The Forest Bathing Institute community, via our Meetup group.
We wish you all the best for 2020 and We hope you will join us!
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