Young people encouraged to build their nature connection with free 'forest bathing' sessions

Young people across the Highlands are being encouraged to enhance their health and wellbeing by enjoying a free five-week 'forest bathing' series.

Highland Quietlife, based in the Cairngorms National Park, has secured funding to allow persons aged 12–30 years to 'take the atmosphere of the forest' by trying out the ancient Japanese relaxation process of 'forest bathing'.

Also known as Shinrin-yoku – which translates to "take the atmosphere of the forest" – the technique is the practice of immersing one's self in nature.

Thanks to the winter round of the Cairngorms Youth LAG fund, the company are now offering five weeks of consecutive forest bathing sessions – free of charge.

Cath Wright, a qualified nature and forest therapy guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides (ANFT), is behind the project.

She said: "Many of us are out in nature and appreciate the natural world around us, but by joining a guided session it means someone else can keep an eye on the time, meaning you can ignore technology. You get to join a group of like-minded people who can offer support or just friendship during the session and those who maybe have a degree of anxiety going outside or to areas they have not visited before can do so in a supported environment – something very important in this post-lockdown world.

"We are ‘bathing’ in the awesome goodness that trees release into the atmosphere – not actually swimming in the loch; reaping the benefits from magic little things called ‘phytoncides’ and receiving mental calmness from the fractal patterns, vibrant shades of green and calming blues around us – what better place to do this than the Cairngorms National Park?

"I applied for the last round of Cairngorms Youth LAG funding at the beginning of 2022 and was able to run fully funded forest bathing sessions for over 30 young people in the Cairngorms National Park. With this next round of funding, I wanted to build on the first project and offer a programme for young people to build and develop their own nature connection over a period of weeks, rather than just one session so am really pleased we have been able to do this and our sessions are already nearly half full.

"When I trained as a nature and forest therapy guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides I wanted to ensure that those who could benefit and needed to from Forest Bathing could do, with no barriers. This funding ensures this can happen."

The funding is for those specifically 30 years and under and sessions are open to those aged 12 – 30 years. People can book onto as many sessions as they wish, but are encouraged to book more than one.

The fund's priorities include a nature connection; fun, health, happiness & wellbeing; building community, networks and interactions between people and inclusion and under-represented groups.

Sessions will be based at Grantown Health Woods which are fully accessible, with level paths and plenty of seating. Sessions are expected to last 1 ¼ hours (approximately) and walking distance will be less than a mile in a very relaxed and mindful manner. Participants will spend time as a group.

To book please contact Cath on either highlandquietlife@outlook.com or phone on 07910 441 633 to find out more.

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