Forest Bathing
The Sussex woods are changing. Leaves fall in hornbeam forests, the light slants golden through oak branches, and the air carries a crisp stillness. This is the perfect season to try forest bathing — a gentle practice of slowing down, switching off, and letting the natural world restore you.
What Is Forest Bathing?
Originating in Japan as Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing is the art of immersing yourself in the atmosphere of the woods. It isn’t about exercise or foraging. It’s about pausing, breathing, and letting your senses open to the world around you.
How to Begin
You don’t need special equipment or training. Simply choose a woodland — the hornbeam forests of the Sussex Weald, the oak and beech of Ashdown Forest, or a quiet copse near home — and try these steps:
Leave your phone behind or put it on silent — this is your digital detox.
Walk slowly. Forest bathing isn’t about distance; it’s about presence.
Notice with all your senses: the crunch of leaves underfoot, the scent of damp earth, the shapes of branches against the sky.
Pause often. Sit beneath a tree or lean against a trunk, breathing slowly and deeply.
Even ten minutes can calm the nervous system, lower stress hormones, and help you feel more grounded.
Why Autumn Is Perfect
The Sussex landscape is vibrant now. Acorns scatter under oak trees, fungi emerge, and birds gather before migration. The shifting season mirrors our own need to slow down, conserve energy, and prepare for winter.
A Seasonal Reflection
Just as we step back from long summer days, autumn invites us to let go of the constant noise of screens and reconnect with what is real, grounding, and nourishing. A short walk in the woods, without distraction, can be one of the most powerful medicines for body and spirit.
An Invitation
Forest bathing is a simple practice you can try anytime, and Sussex offers some of the most beautiful settings for it. In the spring, I’ll be leading guided sessions to explore this practice more deeply — but for now, I invite you to step outside, leave your phone behind, and let the forest hold you.
To hear about upcoming Sussex Herbal events and guided forest bathing walks, join my newsletter or book a consultation to explore how nature connection can support your wellbeing.
