Forest and Nature Therapy
Sessions are held in Brightlingsea Essex, are only run in the warmer months of the year.
Dates for 2025
Thursday 18th September 10am to 1pm
Thursday 23rd October 10am to 1pm
Please sign up here to my email list to be notified when additional dates are released.
To book your place, you will need the Nature Therapy Sessions on the schedule below.
If you have any problems, please do get in touch and I will help you book in.
Dates for 2025
Thursday 18th September 10am to 1pm
Thursday 23rd October 10am to 1pm
Please sign up here to my email list to be notified when additional dates are released.
To book your place, you will need the Nature Therapy Sessions on the schedule below.
If you have any problems, please do get in touch and I will help you book in.
What is Forest Therapy?
Forest Therapy is not about exercise, but connection with the natural world, and hence, a deeper connection with ourselves.
Forest therapy, also known as forest bathing or Shinrin-yoku, is a guided practice of spending time in nature to enhance physical and mental well-being. Rooted in the concept of Biophilia, Forest Therapy involves slow, mindful walks and activities through a forest or green space, encouraging multi-sensory awareness and connection with the natural world. The combined experiences is believed to support the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and reducing stress, along with other health benefits.
Forest therapy, also known as forest bathing or Shinrin-yoku, is a guided practice of spending time in nature to enhance physical and mental well-being. Rooted in the concept of Biophilia, Forest Therapy involves slow, mindful walks and activities through a forest or green space, encouraging multi-sensory awareness and connection with the natural world. The combined experiences is believed to support the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and reducing stress, along with other health benefits.
Health Benefits
Research has shown that spending time in nature has profound benefits for both physical and mental health.
Physically, forest therapy helps lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate, and decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The clean, oxygen-rich air of the forest, combined with phytoncides (natural compounds released by trees) can enhance immune function by boosting natural killer (NK) cell activity, which helps fight infections and disease.
Mentally, forest therapy promotes relaxation and reduces symptoms of anxiety, depression, and mental fatigue. The calming sights, sounds, and smells of the forest environment stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which induces a state of rest and recovery. It also improves mood, focus, and cognitive performance, especially in individuals experiencing stress, trauma or burnout.
On a deeper level, the Japanese concept of Yugen helps explain the introspection invoked by the beauty of nature. Yugen helps individuals to support personal insight and emotional processing which will help with problem solving and emotional health.
Spending time in nature encourages mindfulness and a deeper connection to nature, fostering a sense of peace and emotional balance. Forest therapy is a simple yet powerful way to restore health, well-being, and inner calm in today’s fast-paced world.
Physically, forest therapy helps lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate, and decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The clean, oxygen-rich air of the forest, combined with phytoncides (natural compounds released by trees) can enhance immune function by boosting natural killer (NK) cell activity, which helps fight infections and disease.
Mentally, forest therapy promotes relaxation and reduces symptoms of anxiety, depression, and mental fatigue. The calming sights, sounds, and smells of the forest environment stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which induces a state of rest and recovery. It also improves mood, focus, and cognitive performance, especially in individuals experiencing stress, trauma or burnout.
On a deeper level, the Japanese concept of Yugen helps explain the introspection invoked by the beauty of nature. Yugen helps individuals to support personal insight and emotional processing which will help with problem solving and emotional health.
Spending time in nature encourages mindfulness and a deeper connection to nature, fostering a sense of peace and emotional balance. Forest therapy is a simple yet powerful way to restore health, well-being, and inner calm in today’s fast-paced world.
About Me, Your Facilitator and Guide
I am a Homeopath, Naturopath, Biofeedback Practitioner, Meditation and Reiki Teacher, and Forest Therapy Facilitator.
I work with my clients to address their symptoms with natural methods, working to clear the root cause of mental, emotional and physical health issues. I work with therapies that have helped me with my health journey, starting my health recovery at 21.
When I was a child, my grandparents had a smallholding . I remember having the freedom to roam the farm it was set within, and enjoy the connection with the plants and animals. Time moves forward and takes us all on a journey, and then we discover nature has shrunk, and we have forgotten that innate knowing of how to just be.
Now my children have grown up and left home, I chose to introduce forest therapy sessions when I needed more connection to nature, more time to be. I had forgotten, on some level, how to make that connection for myself, something many of us struggle with.
Forest and Nature Therapy sessions are to help you reconnect back to yourself, and also to connect to the greater being of nature, that is still all around us, if we just know where to look, and most importantly how. The sessions will help you slow down, release anxiety, stress and tension, and also help start the process of opening up to yourself, someone we all need to know how to hear.
When I take my clients on a Forest and Nature Therapy session, I find it helps unlock doors that they had no idea were closed. They discover issues that are holding them back, and ways to move forward. Something that they may not receive on just a walk in the woods on their own.
I bring the gift of Forest and Nature Therapy to my clients to help them discover how to connect with the restorative power of nature, and themselves.
I work with my clients to address their symptoms with natural methods, working to clear the root cause of mental, emotional and physical health issues. I work with therapies that have helped me with my health journey, starting my health recovery at 21.
When I was a child, my grandparents had a smallholding . I remember having the freedom to roam the farm it was set within, and enjoy the connection with the plants and animals. Time moves forward and takes us all on a journey, and then we discover nature has shrunk, and we have forgotten that innate knowing of how to just be.
Now my children have grown up and left home, I chose to introduce forest therapy sessions when I needed more connection to nature, more time to be. I had forgotten, on some level, how to make that connection for myself, something many of us struggle with.
Forest and Nature Therapy sessions are to help you reconnect back to yourself, and also to connect to the greater being of nature, that is still all around us, if we just know where to look, and most importantly how. The sessions will help you slow down, release anxiety, stress and tension, and also help start the process of opening up to yourself, someone we all need to know how to hear.
When I take my clients on a Forest and Nature Therapy session, I find it helps unlock doors that they had no idea were closed. They discover issues that are holding them back, and ways to move forward. Something that they may not receive on just a walk in the woods on their own.
I bring the gift of Forest and Nature Therapy to my clients to help them discover how to connect with the restorative power of nature, and themselves.
Details about My Forest and Nature Therapy Sessions
These guided sessions are held at Brightlingsea, on my private farm. The grounds hold stunning views over the River Colne. The grounds comprise of meadow, and small wood area, a willow enclosed log circle and a comfortable shelter with the land being dedicated to nature and conservation.
The Forest and Nature Therapy part of the session lasts for 2 hours, and is followed by an hour around the log circle with opportunity to enjoy a cup of tea (please bring your own flask / beverage and snack - all rubbish is to be taken home with you).
At each log circle session, I will share some information on local herbs and their medicinal benefits. Where appropriate, we will make a herbal tea or other simple preparation to discover and experience the herbs qualities.
Groups are for a maximum of 10 people,
Duration 3 hours
Price per person £30
The Forest and Nature Therapy part of the session lasts for 2 hours, and is followed by an hour around the log circle with opportunity to enjoy a cup of tea (please bring your own flask / beverage and snack - all rubbish is to be taken home with you).
At each log circle session, I will share some information on local herbs and their medicinal benefits. Where appropriate, we will make a herbal tea or other simple preparation to discover and experience the herbs qualities.
Groups are for a maximum of 10 people,
Duration 3 hours
Price per person £30
Feedback
Just a little feedback for you..
"It evokes an immediate sense of calm. A step away from normal life into a nature bubble.
Time slows, heartrate slows, and the speed of thoughts calm. It offers the ability to tap into your childlike curiosity. Its a space to feel safe physically and emotionally."
"Wonderful experience, completely connected to nature and switch off from the chaotic world we live in. It taught us to really think about sound, smells and touch.
Total peace and tranquillity. Dawn took us through these wonderful experiences and it was brilliant. Thank you"
"It evokes an immediate sense of calm. A step away from normal life into a nature bubble.
Time slows, heartrate slows, and the speed of thoughts calm. It offers the ability to tap into your childlike curiosity. Its a space to feel safe physically and emotionally."
"Wonderful experience, completely connected to nature and switch off from the chaotic world we live in. It taught us to really think about sound, smells and touch.
Total peace and tranquillity. Dawn took us through these wonderful experiences and it was brilliant. Thank you"