MEET THE TEAM
We have built a supportive and nurturing environment for our team.
We encourage honest and open communication.
We love working with like-minded passionate people who care about the same things as we do.
We encourage creativity and out of the box thinking.
Would you like a Forest bathing+ event?
If you would like one of our team to run a forest bathing session for you. Please contact us via our contact form.
For more information about a member of our team, click their image below.
co-Founders
Gary Evans (he/him)
Gary Evans
Gary Evans, director and co-founder of The Forest Bathing Institute, The World Economic Forum Top Innovator, is a peer-reviewed author and researcher on the health benefits of forest bathing. Gary’s love of nature started at a young age; something Gary credits to his father. He has an inquisitive mind and likes to understand how things are and not just accept the way things appear to be. When Gary looks at forests, birds and animals, he is amazed and moved with wonder at the beauty he sees and feels. This worldview formed the foundation for The Forest Bathing Institute. He always wondered if there were health benefits to spending time in forests and couldn’t understand why these incredible areas had not been explored more. The discovery of Forest Bathing joined big dots and Gary’s research began.
In 2018, Gary, alongside Olga Terebenina, pioneered Forest Bathing+ in the UK. Between them, they have led hundreds of woodland therapy sessions for the general public, health care professionals, NHS staff, Defra, Natural England, Forestry England, County Councils and world experts in nature therapy.
Gary regularly consults with the government, universities (70 currently), healthcare providers, wildlife charities and national landowners. Gary is regularly quoted in the national and international press and featured in countless publications, including The Guardian and Telegraph. His media appearances include BBC TV, BBC Earth, BBC Radio and print. In 2025, Gary and Olga co-authored ‘The Healing Power of Trees’ book and Forest Bathing Card Deck (available at retailers across the UK and the US, as well as online) to spread awareness about forest bathing practice and make it accessible to more people.
Co-founder of TFBI
Olga Terebenina (she/her)
Olga Terebenina
Olga is a peer-reviewed nature author and researcher, co-founder of The Forest Bathing Institute, World Economic Fund Top Innovator, Top 100 Global Women Entrepreneurs to be Inspired 2024 by Global Woman Magazine, and an environmental activist. From early childhood, Olga was interested in nature and ways we can protect and enhance natural environments around us. When faced with health problems in her late teens, Olga turned to nature and found that spending time in nature was not only an effective solution for her health problems but that these findings were backed up by research and could, in turn, inspire a movement to help protect habitats for current and future generations.
In 2018, together with Gary Evans, Olga set up The Forest Bathing Institute – one of the world-leading organisations in the research, events, and training into the health and wellbeing benefits of nature. In just a few years, TFBI has grown into a large team worldwide.
Olga was featured on BBC Sounds People Fixing the World, BBC Two Countryfile, the Wellbeing Lab with Will Young, and the MUDWTR Trends with Benefits podcast.
Olga hopes to spread the benefits of spending time in nature and ecological protection to communities while working with the media, governments, universities, and communities worldwide. Her dream is to make forest bathing accessible to all people and see it, alongside other nature therapies, become part of national health and educational systems around the globe. Her current projects include running the TFBI All Nature Connected Podcast and spreading the Institute’s work to other countries around the globe.
In 2025, Olga, together with Gary Evans, co-authored their book ‘The Healing Power of Trees’ and Forest Bathing Card Deck (available at retailers across the UK and the US, as well as online) to spread awareness about the forest bathing practice and make it accessible to more people.
Co-founder of TFBI
our local guides
Susanne Meis
Susanne Meis
Susanne has been teaching somatic wellbeing since 2009 and was one of the first Forest Bathing trainers for TFBI. She took part in a study with the University of Derby comparing Forest Bathing with Mindfulness, and has guided Forest Bathing events for public, corporate and celebrity groups across the UK, including at Sherwood Forest, Leith Hill Rhododendron Woods, Richmond Park and Chiswick House & Gardens. In 2021 she led the inaugural TFBI Forest Bathing event at The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew and established TFBI forest bathing guide team, which has since seen over 1500 participants enjoy Forest Bathing at Kew Gardens.
As the Founder of Meet in Nature Susanne specialises in teaching professional and entrepreneurial women how to effortlessly energise, enliven and empower themselves with nature-smart tools, so that they can create the freedom and change they wish to see in their lives and our world. She has written for Kew Magazine, was featured on Sky News and UK Health Radio, and enjoys sharing her nature- wellbeing insights and practical techniques as a podcast guest, speaker, feature-writer and via her blog at www.meetinnature.com
Susanne’s vision is to help foster a heart-centred, reciprocal, restorative relationship between people and planet. She is passionate about reminding us that nature is alive within us all, and that when we begin to consciously appreciate and care more deeply for the natural world and ourselves as part of it, we will thrive together. Sharing the beauty and restorative powers of the natural world continues to fill her heart with joy and gratitude. Her favourite sense is the sense of smell, and when she’s not under a forest canopy smelling soil, you may find her in a Surrey garden smelling the roses.
South London/Surrey
Joined the TFBI team in 2018
Head of Kew Gardens TFBI Forest Bathing Guide Team
Senior Forest Bathing Guide
Elisabetta Murgia
Elisabetta Murgia
Highlights/Milestones at TFBI:
Involved in Corporate sessions at Woburn Forest, Royal Holloway University, Northern Eastern University.
Part of the Kew Gardens team, participated in the Joe Wicks festival
Bio:
Elisabetta’s love and connection to nature, along with a strong desire to help others, guided her toward her ideal profession. Becoming a Forest Bathing+ Guide has fulfilled her life’s purpose in every way.
To Elisabetta, nature is a safe place — a space that nourishes her soul and embraces all her emotions. She grew up on a Mediterranean island, where she connected deeply with the sea, the land, and the trees, spending time foraging and helping her grandparents in their vineyard and olive grove.
Elisabetta has developed a passion for gardening and botany, and loves learning about trees and flowers. She is especially interested in growing herbs and cultivating plants that support wildlife and pollinators. Writing and photography are among Elisabetta’s other loves, and she finds her creativity flourishes when she is in nature. In the future, Elisabetta hopes to develop the skills to encourage her participants to sketch or write after a Forest Bathing session.
She recently trained as a Grief First Aider, driven by her wish to help those dealing with bereavement. She believes that nature can offer deep comfort, and she feels that Forest Bathing can be a soothing practice for those suffering from loss.
Alongside leading sessions in various locations, Elisabetta enjoys talking about Forest Bathing, giving regular presentations to groups, and taking part in interviews.
Elisabetta is also passionate about bringing more nature into urban environments, believing that creating green spaces in cities is vital for giving people the chance to pause and reset during their busy days.
Currently, Elisabetta is working on introducing a programme of Forest Bathing sessions in schools, while holding a few more dreams close to her heart.
Elisabetta hopes to continue growing her work, bringing Forest Bathing to individuals, companies, schools, and charities — helping many more people in the years to come.
London (North West, West and North, East and surroundings).
Joined the TFBI team in 2023
Forest Bathing Guide
Joanna Bristow-Watkins
Joanna Bristow-Watkins
Three TFBI Highlights: Co-leading two six-week Social Prescribing programmes with Harmony in Nature—one for Woking Mind and another for young homeless adults, asylum seekers and refugees, recovering addicts and individuals experiencing mental health challenges. These projects were delivered in collaboration with the University of Derby (2022) and University College London (2023), evidencing the measurable wellbeing benefits of nature connection for diverse and often marginalised communities. Feedback from both programmes was profound and humbling, with participants describing life-changing shifts in confidence, perspective and inner peace. Another highlight has been guiding groups of first-time participants and witnessing their transformations over time—some so inspired by their experience of forest bathing that they have since trained as guides themselves.
Bio:
Based in Surrey and South London, Joanna co-founded Harmony in Nature in 2021 with fellow Senior Guide Katie Robinson, offering regular public and corporate wellbeing immersions in ancient and semi-ancient woodland. The team has since established Harmony in Nature CIC to enable future access to nature-led grant funding and community wellbeing initiatives.
Joanna’s love of nature was rooted in childhood. Growing up in Oatlands, Weybridge, she spent countless hours exploring local woods and lakes with her sisters, nurturing a lifelong sense of belonging in the natural world.
After more than 15 years in senior management specialising in customer care and training, Joanna founded Harmony Healing in 1999, blending Ancient Egyptian philosophies with modern holistic practice. Through this work she both practises and teaches energy-based healing systems that empower individuals to restore balance and expand spiritual awareness.
A passionate advocate of mindful living and seasonal awareness, Joanna writes educational blogs and leads lunar and spiritual workshops integrating nature connection with holistic self-care. She envisions a future where nature-based mindfulness and energy alignment are integral to education, healthcare and community wellbeing—helping people rediscover harmony within themselves and with the Earth.
Surrey and South London, England
Joined TFBI in 2019
Senior Forest Bathing Guide
Admin Team
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Katie Robinson
Having spent many family holidays and weekends from a young age walking, youth hostelling and being outdoors whatever the weather, particularly in the Lake District and North Yorkshire Moors, Katie feels right at home with Forest Bathing. She has been on two survival courses, and loves learning which wild foods we can forage. She’s been self-employed for much of her working life, so she can do a mix of what she enjoys, which has included editing and dance instructing.
One of the most important things to her is managing her and her family’s health care with natural therapies, enabling them to be mainly independent of the mainstream. She advocates always doing your own research. The key components of her approach to health are nutrition, essential oils, homeopathy and walking amongst greenery; with visits to other practitioners as necessary (she says she doesn’t advocate doing your own acupuncture or osteopathy).
Role – XXXX
Key Fact – XXXXX
Location – XXXX
Chantelle Manz (she/her)
Chantelle Manz
Highlights/Milestones at TFBI:
Completed my TFBI Guide training in May 2025 and started working to support the management team with driving book launch interest, corporate events, and establishing new partner relationships and I am excited for what the future holds for the TFBI
Bio:
Chantelle is well known for being an outdoorsy adventurer, always curious about the world around her. Growing up, she spent much of her time climbing trees and swimming in rivers; her connection to the natural world has always been deeply rooted.
A few years ago, following some significant life changes, Chantelle began to feel a disconnect in herself and the way she was living. The pandemic gave her the chance to pause, reflect, and dive deeper into her passion for mental wellbeing, holistic therapies, and mindful living. The pull back to nature—for healing and balance—was so strong that she chose to pivot her career away from the corporate world and towards where she truly felt she belonged: in nature and supporting others.
After attending a Forest Bathing+ session for her own wellbeing and curiosity, Chantelle realised almost instantly that she wanted to become a guide herself. Training with the TFBI inspired her to set up her own nature-based wellbeing practice, where she now leads Forest Bathing+ sessions as well as a variety of other activities, always weaving in the ethos of nature for mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Her work supports people in reconnecting with the natural world, while also encouraging respect for and protection of the South Downs and nearby ancient woodlands.
Alongside this, Chantelle volunteers with the National Trust as part of the Ladies Coppicing Group, helping to manage and protect her local countryside for future generations. She also supports young adults through Duke of Edinburgh Award training, sharing her love of the outdoors and encouraging the next generation to discover its many benefits.
Based in Hampshire and working across Hampshire & West Sussex, England
Joined the TFBI in 2025
Strategic Partnerships & Management Team Admin Support
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Katie Robinson
Having spent many family holidays and weekends from a young age walking, youth hostelling and being outdoors whatever the weather, particularly in the Lake District and North Yorkshire Moors, Katie feels right at home with Forest Bathing. She has been on two survival courses, and loves learning which wild foods we can forage. She’s been self-employed for much of her working life, so she can do a mix of what she enjoys, which has included editing and dance instructing.
One of the most important things to her is managing her and her family’s health care with natural therapies, enabling them to be mainly independent of the mainstream. She advocates always doing your own research. The key components of her approach to health are nutrition, essential oils, homeopathy and walking amongst greenery; with visits to other practitioners as necessary (she says she doesn’t advocate doing your own acupuncture or osteopathy).
Role – XXXX
Key Fact – XXXXX
Location – XXXX
Teaching Team
Liz Burfield (she/her)
Liz Burfield
Highlights/Milestones at TFBI: Co-creating TFBI’s six-week nature connection programme (and then running it at RSPB The Lodge), leading TFBI’s In-Person Guide Training at our stunning Welsh location, learning from TFBI’s brilliant students and seeing them become wonderful Forest Bathing+ Guides!
Bio:
Liz is down to earth, friendly, and loves seeing people find their own connection with nature.
Her love of forest bathing began as part of her personal journey to manage anxiety and depression. Having experienced first-hand the incredible impact that time in the woods can have on mental well-being, Liz is now committed to making this experience accessible to as many people as possible.
A particular highlight of recent years has been working with local councils and charities to offer nature-connection experiences to vulnerable groups. Liz has also created online nature-based mindfulness sessions for those who may find it difficult to join in-person events.
In addition to guiding forest bathing sessions, Liz works in fitness and prefers to be active outdoors – exploring the beautiful local countryside on foot, by bike, or paddleboard. She also volunteers at a local nature reserve, and is passionate about caring for our amazing world.
At heart, Liz believes we can’t separate people and planet. Her hope is that forest bathing can help plant seeds of love and compassion, helping us all live more sustainable, connected lives.
Bedfordshire / South East England
Joined the team in 2019
Head of Forest Bathing+ Guide Training
Senior Forest Bathing+ Guide
Susie Wilkinson (she/her)
Susie Wilkinson
Highlights/Milestones at TFBI: Witnessing the growth, expansion and healing of trainees
Bio:
Susie’s passion is healing through nature connection – and supporting others do the same. Slowing down allows us to notice the breath-taking beauty of Mother Nature. Rested and reassured, we can envision new ways to be alive.
Nourished by ancient nature wisdom from Britain – which inspired her wild circles and retreats – and the tribal healing traditions of South America, Susie now works with indigenous women in the Amazon, buying back land so it can be preserved and protected on behalf of all beings.
Susie brings a background in yoga merged with extensive experience teaching in inner London schools, living and working in communities of significant disadvantage, and supporting children with Special Educational Needs with mindfulness.
Susie also serves on the teaching team of the Yoga Nidra Network and offers a weekly online class, The Bedtime Sessions (Mondays, 8.30-9.10pm UK; all welcome) in which she shares gentle guided practices as an invitation to deep rest. Her wonder for the natural world is woven into every offering, whether honouring the magic of mycelium or stars in space. She also offers 121 sessions and bespoke Yoga Nidra.
Find Susie on Instagram @mother_earth_collective or reach out to her at motherearthcollective@outlook.com
Here is the link to Susie’s Crowdfunder:
Mother Earth Collective – Protecting the Amazon – a Community crowdfunding project in Colombia by Susie Wilkinson
Location: Nomadic
Joined the TFBI Team in 2022
Head of Module One of Forest Bathing Guide Training (Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation for Forest Bathing Guiding)
Amanda Christie (she/her)
Amanda Christie
Amanda is a Speech and Language Therapist, Mindfulness Practitioner, and Forest Bathing Guide with a passion for making nature-based wellbeing practices accessible to all. Trained by Gary and Olga on their first forest bathing programme, Amanda has since contributed to developing and delivering the training modules in mindfulness and meditation, and forest bathing. Additionally, she supervised new students.
Amanda’s work has included offering forest bathing sessions to diverse groups such as MIND service users, neurodivergent teenagers, and refugee communities—witnessing first-hand the healing and unifying power of nature. With an MSc in Mindfulness-Based Approaches for Health and Wellbeing, Amanda brings together professional expertise in communication, lived experience of mindfulness, and a deep appreciation for the arts and the natural world.
Amanda’s wish is to continue supporting those who may face barriers to accessing Forest Bathing, helping more people to experience the restorative benefits of connecting with nature and learning to respect what nature has to offer us.
Surrey, Southwest London
Joined the TFBI team in 2018
Module One tutor
Senior Forest Bathing Guide
Indra Jackson
Indra Jackson
Led sessions at Ashridge Estate, Wendover Woods, Kew Gardens and for Forestry England and YuLife
Indra first became fascinated by nature on a year’s backpacking trip around the world. She was particularly captivated by the plants and wildlife deep in the rainforests of South-East Asia.
Back at home, she went on to spend countless hours alone in her local woodland, where she began to experience a deep, wordless connection with the natural world. In those quiet moments amongst the trees, she felt something awaken – a sense of belonging, peace and clarity she had not found anywhere else.
This connection became a calling. She trained as a forest bathing guide to lead others to that same space where the forest becomes more than just a place, but a partner in healing and reconnection. Her approach is simple, mindful and rooted in respect for the land, each other and for the quiet wisdom of the trees.
Indra also works as a gardener helping design and develop gardens for wildlife and runs mindful Sri Lankan cookery workshops. She is passionate about self development and believes that by deeply exploring our inner worlds we can create the positive changes we need for the future
Hertfordshire
Joined TFBI in 2021
Forest Bathing Guide Training Module Two tutor
Senior Forest bathing guide
Janine Gerhardt
Janine Gerhardt
Janine grew up in the thick woodlands and meadows of the German countryside, testing the patience of local farmers by exploring their fields. She is a Mum of 3 and a practising medical Herbalist, who prefers climbing trees to spending time on screens. In 2008, after graduating in Herbal Medicine (BSc hons), she was itching to develop her knowledge of nature and the outdoors further, and in 2012 she completed a postgraduate diploma in Ecology and Conservation.
Janine is a clinical supervisor who loves teaching and working with people from all walks of life and ages, aiming to enhance health and well-being through engaging with nature to nourish self-reliance and empowerment.
These converging paths led her to discover Forest Bathing + and the Forest Bathing Institute, a significant piece in the jigsaw she wholeheartedly embraced.
Surrey
Joined TFBI in 2020
Forest Bathing Guide Training Module Two tutor,
Senior Forest Bathing Guide
TFBI Kew Gardens Forest Bathing Guide
Katie Robinson
Katie Robinson
TFBI Highlights: Being filmed by the BBC in December 2019, leading a small group of young people with multiple disabilities, with the Rev. Kate Bottley, who, as Katie discovered when the program was aired, had felt it like ‘a religious experience’. Two other highlights were the two Green Social Prescribing 6-week programmes co-run with Joanna Bristow-Watkins, also part of university research projects. Leading multiple sessions, Katie and Joanna really saw, heard and felt the cumulative and often life-changing benefits. In the 2022 Mind group, 9 of 10 completed it, and in 2023 the enthusiasm and feedback from some of the homeless young people was particularly touching.
Bio:
Katie was lucky to spend most family holidays outdoors, hiking or camping, so nature was present early in her life, and Forest Bathing was like reinterpreting earlier experiences on a deeper level. As well as regular public events with Joanna Bristow-Watkins, as Harmony In Nature, Katie and Jo run corporate events, and collaborate with other wellness or outdoor craft providers.
Although Katie’s career was in language teaching and publishing, natural heath was a constant: nutrition, massage, energy healing, herbs, homeopathy and essential oils enabled her to raise two children to adulthood without much external intervention. Reclaiming Our Natural Health is Katie’s six-part intuitive wellness programme for adults. Katie loves personal development, and in recent years have trained as a Firewalking Instructor and an intuitive coach.
Katie has lived abroad, speaks three other languages, and knows that curiosity, love and kindness are what will change the world. Katie’s vision is to see the realisation of what our ancestors knew: that everything we need to thrive is either already inside us or found in nature, if we are curious enough to look.
Surrey, London, Home Counties
Joined TFBI in 2018
Senior FB+ Guide, Forest Bathing Guide Training Assessor and Tutor
support Team
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Katie Robinson
Having spent many family holidays and weekends from a young age walking, youth hostelling and being outdoors whatever the weather, particularly in the Lake District and North Yorkshire Moors, Katie feels right at home with Forest Bathing. She has been on two survival courses, and loves learning which wild foods we can forage. She’s been self-employed for much of her working life, so she can do a mix of what she enjoys, which has included editing and dance instructing.
One of the most important things to her is managing her and her family’s health care with natural therapies, enabling them to be mainly independent of the mainstream. She advocates always doing your own research. The key components of her approach to health are nutrition, essential oils, homeopathy and walking amongst greenery; with visits to other practitioners as necessary (she says she doesn’t advocate doing your own acupuncture or osteopathy).
Role – XXXX
Key Fact – XXXXX
Location – XXXX
Rosanna Amadeo
Rosanna Amadeo
Highlights/Milestones at TFBI: In March 2022, Rosanna led a six-week programme as part of a study conducted by Dr. Kirsten McEwan at the University of Derby. The study aimed to explore the impact of Forest Bathing on wellbeing, with participants referred by health and social care professionals.
Bio:
Since childhood, Rosanna has spent weekends and free time with her family outdoors —whether in the countryside, by the sea, or in the mountains. When she moved from Italy to London, Rosanna found herself spending much more time indoors, which had an impact on her mental health. As a counsellor, she recognised that something was out of balance.
It was her friend, Susanne Meis, who introduced her to a Forest Bathing session. Rosanna was amazed at how quickly people’s autonomic nervous systems shifted in nature, and she wanted to understand why. This curiosity led her to train as a Forest Bathing Guide, becoming part of the second cohort taught by Gary and Olga.
Since then, Rosanna has run numerous sessions at Newlands Corner and was fortunate to lead an early study with The Forest Bathing Institute, offering six Forest Bathing sessions to participants experiencing mental health challenges. This experience reinforced her belief that nature is one of the most effective and efficient ways to support mental wellbeing.
After delivering regular Forest Bathing sessions in the beautiful Leith Hill, she is now honoured to be part of the wonderful team bringing Forest Bathing to Kew Gardens.
Rosanna’s therapeutic work and Forest Bathing practice complement each other perfectly. Rosanna is a CBT therapist with the NHS and also runs her own private counselling and CBT practice. Mental health remains Rosanna’s primary focus, and she is delighted to be part of The Forest Bathing Institute. Its mission—to reach as many people as possible and improve mental health through effective Forest Bathing practices—deeply aligns with Rosanna’s own values.
South West London
Joined TFBI in 2019
Senior Forest Bathing Guide and Mental Health Support for TFBI members
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Angela Colebrook
Angela discovered Forest Bathing and has not looked back, first experiencing the benefits as a participant and then jumping at the chance to train and qualify as a Forest Bathing+ Guide with the Forest Bathing Institute (TFBI) in 2021.
Angela has a human resources and training background and has been a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personal and Development (CIPD) for over three decades. She has always been passionate about helping others gain confidence and grow in whatever they do, from training in the workplace to well-being and self-care activities.
Based in Cheshire, Angela works in person throughout Northwest England and the UK.
