About
Funding from the Highland Green Health Small Grant Fund has enabled the development of a monthly forest bathing community to establish in Grantown-on-Spey, located at the Grantown Medical Centre Health Wood. The group is open to all and also welcomes participants through a green prescription pathway, from local GP’s and the Green Health Link Worker.
Highland Quietlife facilitates Forest Bathing opportunities in the Cairngorms area. Forest Bathing or Shinrin-yoku is rooted in Japan and literally translates to ‘take the atmosphere of the forest’. A typical session is a gentle forest experience with invitations to take part in activities which aim to help people remember, whether consciously or not, that we are all part of nature and explore our deep-rooted relationship and connection with all other beings and the ‘more than human world’.
Impacts/outcomes
The seed funding has enabled development of a community of people who gain health and wellbeing benefits from the forest bathing sessions and offers local people increased access to nature connection. Highland Quietlife has also established relationships with the Grantown Medical Centre and Green Health Link Worker which supports the green prescription pathway to this gentle nature connection activity.
This funded project has led to the development of a social enterprise model. Highland Quietlife is currently able to continue to provide the monthly sessions, supported by their private sessions and corporate work and will seek further funding or sponsorship to enable each monthly session.
This initiative is a good example of how green prescription pathways can be established in collaboration with small businesses and by integrating into wider community opportunities, with an open to all policy, green health can facilitate accessibility and inclusivity.
Testimonial
Participant’s words were recorded at the start of the session to the end, a simple way to record how the session has made them feel. Here are a few examples;
- Tired – Refreshed
- Tired – Peaceful
- Fuggy – Less fuggy
- Tired – Relaxed
- Tired – Connected
- Rushed – Joyful
- Withdrawn – Grateful
- Knotted – Thoughtful
Key Learning Points
It takes time to establish something new and spread the word. This cannot be developed with one session alone and word of mouth locally is a powerful marketing tool.
There are several barriers to people ‘getting outside’, these can include general social anxiety; lack of inclusion or safe spaces; the right outdoor clothing; health and fitness; disabilities and physical abilities and cost of taking part. Highland Quietlife aims to tackle as many of these potential barriers as possible. Cath Wright aims to remove as many barriers as possible or support participants to find solutions. In terms of cost it is important that participants are aware there is a cost attached but also that they do not feel they have to pay for this, hence the transparency as to where the funding is coming from.
For more information
Visit the Highland Quietlife website for more information about Forest Bathing and opportunities available. The sessions in Grantown Medical Centre Health Wood take place on the first Sunday of the month at 10:30am. This is a free group, everyone is welcome and no need to book – please just come along. These sessions are funded by the private bookings throughout the year.