A long 12 Forest Bath<strong>in</strong>g: A Focus on Nature By Kathryn Kavanagh, TTTV WildChild Officer a little lane beh<strong>in</strong>d Burton Tesco, is a road to the wide open space of the Washl<strong>and</strong>s with a great view of the Ferry Bridge <strong>and</strong> a woodl<strong>and</strong> - a hidden gem ready to explore. I came here on a sunny afternoon to experience forest bath<strong>in</strong>g. Now, I know what you are th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g: words <strong>and</strong> our imag<strong>in</strong>ations work together to create images <strong>and</strong> expectations of activities we’ve not yet experienced. Not hav<strong>in</strong>g attended forest bath<strong>in</strong>g, you might th<strong>in</strong>k of ly<strong>in</strong>g down, sunbath<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a forest. Although that does sound lovely <strong>and</strong> relax<strong>in</strong>g, it isn’t exactly what the activity entails. Here’s my experience from my first ever session… To beg<strong>in</strong>, we first cross the wooden bridge under the Burton Mail Centenary Woods’ green archway. A wild hedgerow frames it so well that it’s like a portal to the forest, hidden with<strong>in</strong> a vast grassl<strong>and</strong> habitat. Beyond the arch <strong>in</strong> the clear<strong>in</strong>g is our event leader, Alexis Johnson, the Wild Wellbe<strong>in</strong>g Lead for Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. She greets us with a big smile, <strong>and</strong> talks about the benefits of spend<strong>in</strong>g time <strong>in</strong> nature, as well as our expectations of the session. She expla<strong>in</strong>s that this time is about be<strong>in</strong>g m<strong>in</strong>dful, but also engag<strong>in</strong>g with nature. Tak<strong>in</strong>g back the moments we take for granted, don’t have time for, or that get lost <strong>in</strong> the hustle <strong>and</strong> bustle of life. Instead of the five billion th<strong>in</strong>gs we have on our m<strong>in</strong>ds, we will focus on the one or two aspects we see <strong>in</strong> front of us. Yes, it’s a tricky task but try<strong>in</strong>g is step one. The excellent example Alexis gives is when you notice someth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g - like an <strong>in</strong>sect on a leaf – we might typically dismiss it. She advises <strong>in</strong>stead: “Look closer.” Who knows what you might see, feel or experience as a result. That <strong>in</strong>sect might have an iridescent colour or w<strong>in</strong>gs you’ve never before noticed. You might walk through a sunspot on the way <strong>and</strong> feel suddenly warm – take the time to feel it. Once you take notice, a walk through the woodl<strong>and</strong> isn’t just one foot <strong>in</strong> front of the other, but an experience. Alexis talks about cross<strong>in</strong>g a threshold, a boundary where, once over, a quiet <strong>and</strong> openeyed journey can beg<strong>in</strong>. This is a great process. With the roar of the Burton traffic roll<strong>in</strong>g across the Washl<strong>and</strong>s, it doesn’t seem like a possible task, but I was surprised by how quickly I was able to tune it out once under the canopy. The sounds of a blackbird rustl<strong>in</strong>g through leaf litter, cheerful chirps of birds, <strong>and</strong> those of my own movements soon took over. We were then set with the challenge of walk<strong>in</strong>g deliberately. Not rush<strong>in</strong>g off, but to take <strong>in</strong> the woodl<strong>and</strong> community with each step. As adults we are often all about the A to B, so to slow down <strong>and</strong> just be present feels hard - a tricky habit to break. But, by the end of the session, a snail could overtake me. I would let it <strong>and</strong> follow it to a new observation, or <strong>in</strong>vitation from the woodl<strong>and</strong>. Alexis f<strong>in</strong>ished the session with a sit spot for about twenty m<strong>in</strong>utes, before we all came together over tea <strong>and</strong> biscuits to reflect about how nice it was to walk around the woodl<strong>and</strong>, take <strong>in</strong> the scenery, <strong>and</strong> switch off for a couple hours. The session was well-led as Alexis has a certificate <strong>in</strong> ecotherapy, <strong>and</strong> over fifteen years of experience work<strong>in</strong>g with people outdoors - as well as a calm <strong>and</strong> thoughtful manner with a passion for wildlife <strong>and</strong> the benefits it br<strong>in</strong>gs. My advice is to attend a session with an open m<strong>in</strong>d, allow it to give you what you need (even if it is just a break <strong>and</strong> some fresh air). You can focus on what <strong>in</strong>terests <strong>and</strong> relaxes you <strong>in</strong> nature, be it the wider view of our environment, the various creatures <strong>and</strong> elements you might spot or hear, or simply explor<strong>in</strong>g a new site <strong>in</strong> a calm <strong>and</strong> m<strong>in</strong>dful way. We are count<strong>in</strong>g down to our fourth year for a WildChild summer full of activities! Scan the QR code, have a look through what’s on <strong>and</strong> book onl<strong>in</strong>e to jo<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> the adventure. W l M h s fl t w a t m f lo s a c m y b P h s a f M a b h s h e t
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