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Forest Bathing at Sandwell Valley Birmingham
January 28, 2018 @ 12:00 - 15:00
Take a relaxing dip in Sandwell Valley with stress-busting forest bathing.
We are happy to announce that Holistic Healing Therapy is partnering with the RSPB to deliver a Nature Therapy & Forest Bathing event in January 2018 at Sandwell Valley reserve, north of Birmingham.
The event is far more than a walk in the woods, we would describe it as a relaxing, sensory journey designed to calm the body and mind. As part of the experience there is a series of exercises that assist with relaxation and soaking in the atmosphere of this very special place, combined with short walks around within the reserve. Previous attendees have reported post-session feelings of tranquillity, and we are pleased to say that they have returned for follow-up sessions.
If you are interested in the healing effects of nature, then during this event we will share various techniques that help the body and mind connect, we also reveal the latest science on how natural settings positively impact the physiology of the body. Our hope is that you will return home with a few techniques to use when you need them.
Please visit our website for more information on Nature Therapy & Forest Bathing www.holistichealingtherapy.co.uk
Cost
£15 per person. 15 places available.
Booking
Contact Alex Sharrod on alex.sharrod@rspb.org.uk
Directions
The RSPB Sandwell Valley nature reserve is brown signposted off the A4041 (Newton Rd) North of Hampstead, take Hamstead Road (B4167), which is fifth on the left near the bottom of the hill by the church (look for the brown sign marked RSPB nature centre). Read more at https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/find-a-reserve/reserves-a-z/reserves-by-name/s/sandwellvalley/directions.aspx#eb2jMBgV8m1khq1F.99
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 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.
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, 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. http://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.