Reconnect with nature

Relaxing, restorative wellbeing sessions

Bathe in woodland wellbeing

Immersing yourself in the natural world is a great stress reliever, boosting your mood and helping to put things into perspective.
Dedicate some time to nurturing your well-being by attending our regular wellbeing retreats and be guided to experience how nature can enliven all your senses and deliver relief from stress. Learn tips to use at home to enhance your wellbeing and enjoy some social time around a camp fire sharing a simple vegetarian meal.

We provide opportunities for you to indulge in some ‘me time’ in a tranquil ancient woodland setting, surrounded by fields and with no public access; a great place to feel at ease and promote relaxation. The only visitors to the woodland are those who are invited, together with the birds and animals who choose to make the woodland their home.

“Thank you for such a lovely experience. There was something about today that made for pure happiness. The chiffcaff singing. The chatter of fieldfares on their migration. The smell of the wild garlic. The smokey fire. Sunshine unexpectedly. The pale yellow primroses. The company of kind, interested friendly people. Delicious food. What a special day”.

Benefit your wellbeing through nature connection

About the sessions

Inspired by the Japanese practice of Forest Bathing (Shinrin-yoku) the sessions provide ‘space’ to dedicate some time to benefitting your wellbeing through guided and self-directed activities. An opportunity simply ‘to be’, with guidance on how to deepen nature connection through the senses of sight, smell, hearing and touch. The aim of the sessions are to send you home feeling relaxed and at ease with yourself, having developed skills to savour the natural world, which helps soothe the mind.

Once you’ve developed insight into how to tune into what’s going on around you in nature you’ll be amazed by how much more you notice, plus the wellbeing benefits delivered.

“I certainly felt more mentally relaxed and refreshed after the Forest bathing experience”
(November 2019)

Scientific research has proved that deepening connection with nature can :

De-stress and replenish energy levels
Improve mood
Decrease anxiety
Reduce blood pressure
Boost the immune system
Improve concentration, creativity, and memory
Increase resilience levels
Calm emotional states
Improve sense of life satisfaction

Sessions are led by Susan Collini who has worked as a teacher and trainer for many years and is a Small Woods OCN trainer for Social Forestry, a Practitioner for Mindfulness In The Woods and also a Forest School leader.

3 hour wellbeing retreats

Our Sunday wellbeing retreats (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.) will be designed to promote nature connection through activities as a group and as individuals. The cost is £25 per person and includes refreshments and a simple vegetarian lunch. To give you a flavour, a session may include:

Guided nature connection activities
Nature immersion activities
Forest Bathing
Barefoot walking
Art/craftwork using natural materials
Land art
Hapa Zome
Madalas
Cooking food over a campfire

Remaining dates for 2019 are

Sunday December 15th

There will be no compulsory activities and everything at the wellbeing session is open to opt-in or out of to suit how you are feeling at any particular time.

Every session will involve simple nature connection exercises, but there is never pressure to take part if you would rather not. Sitting quietly, immersed in nature, can be just as helpful to promoting relaxation of body and calming of your mind.