It may seem like spring and new leaves are a long way off, but have you noticed the buds on the trees near you?
There are lots of buds on the branches of trees around here in the Lothians, in Scotland. As nature is lying dormant and preparing itself for the spring, Woodlands Breathing is also taking time to consolidate new roots and buds to prepare the way for what emerges in 2022. We hope you will join us on the journey … After some darker months, we can look forward with hope to the return of light and fresh new colours. The buds on the branches can help a curious human mind to identify a trees species in the winter while the leaves are getting ready to emerge at the right time as the days lengthen and warm up. Developing a deeper connection with nature, perhaps through forest therapy, might encourage you to look at the different shapes and colours of the buds and how they are placed on the branch. We can appreciate the shape and structure of a broadleaved tree in the winter while the tree is resting. Woodlands Breathing is also making preparations for the year … welcome to the first issue of our newsletter, A Leaf in Time. Perhaps you can forward it to a curious friend and encourage them to subscribe?
The Website
The website is now live at: woodlandsbreathing.co.uk. We have had fun on our woodland wanders over the last months adding to the photo collection so that we can share the website with our forest and nature friends. We hope you like it but please let us have any feedback so it can be tweaked for the future.
What is forest bathing? If you are reading this, you might have tried forest bathing already, or you might be wondering what a forest therapy practice is all about. It is inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku and it involves a gentle slow walk in nature, suitable for most fitness levels and so there is no need for a swimsuit. Are you looking for some space and time to reset yourself from the last couple of years? You are encouraged to bring a curious mind to connect with nature and yourself. As the guide, we open the door to your senses and the forest is the therapist. Perhaps you will leave the session appreciating your local park or woodland with new eyes? Research evidence demonstrates that forest bathing can support your mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing. A nature connection activity can be part of a green or social prescribing programme or a ‘green spa’ and can be done most places and without any special equipment.
What does a forest therapy experience entail? If you join Woodlands Breathing in a session, we can offer a ‘live’ group in a woodland or park near you or we can connect, across the oceans and time zones, on an online experience using video and audio. During an online session you can participate from the outdoors or the comfort of your home wherever you are in the world and your guide will walk here in central Scotland.
When are the walks and how do I book? We look forward to welcoming you to the woods sometime soon - some walks for the first part of this year are now open for booking - see link on the website for Eventbrite. Further dates will be added so remember to check the listing from time to time. You can book a walk for yourself or gift an experience to someone special in your life using one of our gift vouchers. Alternatively, you can contact Woodlands Breathing directly to arrange a bespoke event for your own group such as family and friends, colleagues or a club, for corporate wellbeing or a green health activity.
One last thing … one of our regular walks is a monthly walk at a lovely mixed woodland, Binning Wood, which is located between North Berwick and Dunbar in East Lothian. Did you know that John Muir was born in Dunbar before he moved to North America? We thanked him deeply for having the foresight to safeguard the landscape of the Yosemite valley when we were fortunate enough to visit this National Park on an amazing blue sky day a decade ago - we’d had a very wet summer in Scotland so the blue skies of California on that trip were a real treat for the soul!
Thank you for reading and we hope to see you in the woods soon …
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