Why the Media and Science are Turning to The Forest Bathing Institute
It’s no surprise that forest bathing media enquiries are rising because when the World Economic Forum named The Forest Bathing Institute (TFBI) among the top innovators in Forest and Health, it confirmed what we had been building toward for years: a reputation for delivering rigorous, groundbreaking research that bridges ancient practice with modern medicine.
For journalists, documentary makers, and broadcast producers seeking authoritative voices on the future of nature-based healthcare, TFBI has become the first port of call. Here’s why: and how our work continues to shape the global conversation on the connection between nature and human health.
A Media Track Record Built on Scientific Credibility
The media landscape is crowded with wellness trends, but editors and producers increasingly demand more than anecdote. They want evidence, expert commentary, and stories rooted in peer-reviewed science. That’s precisely what TFBI delivers.
Our research and expert insights have been featured across the UK’s most respected outlets, including:
- BBC
- The Guardian
- The Telegraph
- Metro
Beyond print, TFBI has become a regular presence on broadcast media. We have appeared on BBC TV, BBC Earth, and the globally syndicated BBC World Service programme People Fixing the World, reaching millions of listeners worldwide. Our commentary has also been included by NPR in the United States and Spartan.com, extending our reach to international audiences hungry for credible health and wellness content.
What sets TFBI apart in media engagements is our ability to offer not just opinion, but data. Our founder, Gary Evans, frequently appears alongside world-renowned scientific advisor Professor Qing Li: the Japanese physician and researcher whose work helped establish forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku) as a legitimate field of medical study. Together, they provide journalists with compelling, camera-ready insights backed by decades of combined expertise.
Why Journalists Keep Returning to TFBI
Media professionals return to TFBI because we offer something rare: a direct line between cutting-edge research and accessible storytelling. We don’t simply advocate for forest bathing: we measure it, publish it, and collaborate with leading universities to refine it.
Our credentials speak for themselves:
- Links with over 100 universities with numerous research programmes underway
- Peer-reviewed scientific authorship in internationally recognised journals
- Ongoing trials with the NHS and major academic institutions
- Partnerships with local and national government, scientific bodies, and major charities
This institutional network ensures that when TFBI speaks, it speaks with authority. For journalists crafting features on mental health, environmental wellness, or the future of the NHS, we provide the credibility that editors demand.
Cutting-Edge Research: Our Scientific Pillars
TFBI’s research portfolio isn’t just impressive: it’s pioneering. We are conducting studies that have never been attempted in the UK before, generating insights that reshape our understanding of how nature heals.
UK’s First Peer-Reviewed Research Paper on Forest Bathing+
In 2021, TFBI collaborated with the University of Derby to publish the UK’s first peer-reviewed research paper on Forest Bathing+ (FB+). The results demonstrated significant improvements in:
- Positive emotions and mood
- Nature connection
- Heart rate variability (HRV), with 57% of participants showing measurable improvement: a key biomarker of stress resilience and cardiovascular health
This study established FB+ as a scientifically validated intervention, not simply a wellness trend.
Forest Bathing+ vs. Traditional Mindfulness
A separate study compared FB+ directly with traditional mindfulness meditation. The findings revealed that FB+ offers a more accessible, outward-focused alternative for vulnerable groups: particularly those who find internal-focused mindfulness practices challenging or anxiety-inducing.
For mental health professionals and social prescribers, this research opens new pathways to support individuals who have struggled with conventional therapeutic approaches.
Groundbreaking NVOC Study in UK Ancient Woodlands
Perhaps our most ambitious project to date, the Natural Volatile Organic Compounds (NVOC) study, represents the first research of its kind conducted in UK ancient woodlands.
Working alongside the University of Sheffield, we identified the specific air chemistry: known as phytoncides: that could boost immune function. Crucially, this study proved that a two-hour forest bathing session is therapeutically effective, providing a clear, evidence-based timeframe for practitioners and healthcare providers.
This research has profound implications for NHS integration and offers journalists a compelling narrative: the air in ancient British woodlands contains measurable, health-boosting compounds.
International Collaboration with Professor Qing Li
TFBI’s research extends beyond the UK. Recent controlled trials led by TFBI and conducted in Thailand, co-authored by Professor Qing Li, have expanded our understanding of forest bathing’s physiological effects across different climates and forest ecosystems.
This international dimension strengthens TFBI’s position as a global leader in forest medicine research: and offers documentary makers and feature writers a rich, cross-cultural story to explore.
From Research to the NHS: A Healthcare Revolution
TFBI is not content with academic publishing alone. We are actively working to integrate forest bathing into mainstream healthcare.
Our current trajectory includes:
- Measuring physiological reactions during woodland immersion using modern electronic equipment
- Social prescribing availability already active in Surrey
- NHS pilot programmes with plans to expand availability over the coming years
For health correspondents and documentary teams, this represents a significant story: a peer-reviewed, evidence-based intervention moving from research labs to GP surgeries. The implications for public health: and public spending: are substantial.
Forest Research data suggests that woodland-based mental health interventions could save the NHS £141 million annually in England alone.
What We Offer Media and Documentary Teams
TFBI welcomes forest bathing media enquiries from journalists, TV producers, radio hosts, and documentary filmmakers. We can provide:
- Expert interviews with Gary Evans, Olga Terebenina and scientific advisors including Professor Qing Li
- Access to peer-reviewed research papers and unpublished findings
- Live demonstrations of Forest Bathing+ sessions for filming
- On-location access to ancient UK woodlands, including where our studies take place
- Commentary on breaking news related to nature, mental health, and environmental wellness
Whether you’re producing a five-minute radio segment or a feature-length documentary, TFBI offers the scientific depth and storytelling richness that modern audiences expect.
Get in Touch
If you’re a journalist, producer, or researcher seeking expert commentary on the connection between nature and health, we’d love to hear from you.
Visit our Scientific Research page to explore our published papers, or contact us directly through The Forest Bathing Institute website to discuss interview opportunities, filming access, or collaborative features.
We know from the number of forest bathing media enquiries we receive that the story of forest bathing is still being written; and TFBI is at the forefront. We look forward to sharing it with you.
References
- McEwan, K., et al. (2021). A Combined Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Hydrology and Forest Bathing+ for Wellbeing. Sustainability, MDPI.
- McEwan, K., et al. (2021). Comparing the Effectiveness of Mindfulness and Forest Bathing. Sustainability, MDPI.
- TFBI & University of Derby (2023). Natural Volatile Organic Compounds (NVOCs) in UK Ancient Woodlands. Forests, MDPI.
- RSPB & TFBI (2024/2025). Nature Prescriptions Outcomes and Clinical Data.
- World Economic Forum (2021). Top Innovators in Forest and Health.
- Forest Research / Forestry Commission (2021/2022). Valuing the Mental Health Benefits of Woodlands.