Holistic Healing Therapy commence Forest Bathing, and Nature Therapy walks for the RSPB

We are very excited and happy to announce we are now working with the RSPB and will launch our first Nature Therapy / Forest Bathing event in November 2017 at Sandwell Valley just north of Birmingham.

Working directly with the RSPB marks a significant step in the acceptance of Nature Therapy as a way to relieve stress and boost well-being. Our Nature Therapy walks have a massive potential as can be attested to by those attending; we have seen and heard incredibly positive feedback. Many of these reports have been like music to our ears and very touching.

We have learned a lot over the last 16 months of running Nature therapy events. We have spent time with people born and raised in city environs, to start with, some of these people were scared of nature due to so little exposure. Following gentle guidance from us to absorb the forest atmosphere they quickly felt the incredible serenity time in nature can offer. Time after time guests at our events have expressed the sentiment, I have taken nature for granted and now see how much it has to offer me. Beautiful feedback and something we hoped to convey when we launched our events. Quiet, reflective time in woodland settings speaks to all of us on a profound level, if you can’t join one of our walks we strongly encourage you to try mindfulness while in a local wood and see how paying attention to the present moment, sounds, smells and sights make you feel!

We are also thrilled to report we will have further announcements regarding university collaborations and mainstream media coverage over the coming months. Watch this space!

If you would like to join us for a Nature Therapy and Forest Bathing session, please visit our Meetup page for our event dates and details. https://www.meetup.com/Nature-Therapy-Walks-in-Surrey/

RSPB Forest Bathing Media release starts

Take a relaxing dip in Sandwell Valley with stress-busting forest bathing.

Urbanites will have the chance to immerse themselves in a nature-based wellness experience on Thursday, November 2nd when RSPB Sandwell Valley offers a guided forest bathing session.

Forest bathing, or being in the presence of trees, is a Japanese practice known as ‘shinrin-yoku’ that has been shown to boost the immune system, decrease stress, lower blood pressure and improve one’s sense of wellness.

*A recent academic paper extolled the benefits of forest bathing, and anyone interested in the experience can join the session, which holistic therapists Gary and Olga Evans will lead, by booking a place before October 30. The session is free to attend, but post-session donations are welcome, and currently there are 10 places available.

The Evans are yoga teachers, but also offer a range of therapies as part of their business Holistic Healing, including nature therapy inspired by the forest bathing sessions in Japan

Sandwell Valley reserve is a former industrial site in Great Barr restored by the RSPB, and its rich, natural landscape surrounding Forge Mill Lake is a tranquil area less than five miles from the centre of Birmingham.

The reserve is known among wildlife enthusiasts as a place to view an amazing array of birds, including little ring plovers and willow tits. The habitats are also home to butterflies, dragonflies, and bats providing natural theatre.
Gary Evans said the whole focus of the sessions is to guide people to switch off and connect with the natural world.

“We combine different practices including mindfulness, grounding, and natural aromatherapy; using short exercises we also encourage the development and use of various senses,” said Gary.

“We aim to give people an opportunity to stop and look at life from a larger perspective. We have been inspired by forest bathing, currently widely practiced for its therapeutic properties in Japan and the USA.”

Sandwell Valley reserve manager Cathy Taylor added that while the area was already a destination for joggers, dog walkers and people simply looking to spend time surrounded by nature as a way to de-stress, the forest bathing session offered a more guided approach to helping people to slow down.

“Nature has a wonderful calming effect on people, however, even in these beautiful surroundings it can be hard to switch off for some,” she said.
“We hope this session will encourage the people attending to not only allow themselves to really connect with their surroundings, but also to give them some space from any pressure or stress they are experiencing.”

Sandwell Valley reserve is accessible by public transport, so visitors can connect with nature by taking the greener travel option of letting the train take the strain.

To book a place on the session, which starts at 9.30am, contact Alex Sharrod on alex.sharrod@rspb.org.uk
*http://jphysiolanthropol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40101-016-0083-9

ENDS

1. The RSPB is the UK’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. Together with our partners, we protect threatened birds and wildlife so our towns, coast and countryside will teem with life once again. We play a leading role in BirdLife International, a worldwide partnership of nature conservation organisations. www.rspb.org.uk
2. RSPB Sandwell Valley nature reserve is in the north-east corner of Sandwell Valley Country Park. You can enjoy hedgerows full of wildlife, watch flocks of ducks, geese, swans and lapwings from the comfy Lakeside Lookout, or simply take in the valley and Forge Mill Lake views. The valley has large areas of woodland, meadows, pools and streams, as well as two working farms (with visitor centres) and a network of trails, so there’s a lot to see and do here all year-round.