Forest bathing session: Pansanger Park

This session brings you the unique opportunity to fully immerse yourself in nature, alleviating stress and overwhelm. What is forest bathing? Forest bathing, known as Shinrin-yoku, originated in Japan during the 1980s as a public health initiative. Unlike hiking or outdoor fitness, forest bathing involves intentional slow, mindful immersion in a woodland or natural setting. In essence, forest bathing gently regulates the nervous system, helping us shift from “fight or flight” into “rest and restore.” You don’t need to be ‘good at mindfulness’ or particularly outdoorsy — just come as you are. This full Forest bathing experience is approximately 3 hours. What to expect. The session begins with a guided introduction to immersing your senses in nature, followed by a series of activities to further connect with your surroundings. It is recommended that you turn of your phones, or put them on airplane mode so that you can leave the busyness of the day behind, to fully 'rest and restore'. Please be aware that forest bathing takes place in natural outdoor environments where paths may be uneven, muddy, slippery or have obstacles such as roots and fallen branches. A full risk assessment is done but participants are responsible for taking reasonable care of their own safety and should wear suitable footwear and clothing for the weather and terrain. What do I need to bring? Along with suitable footwear and clothing, you will also need something comfortable to sit on. This could be a blanket, yoga mat or camping chair, somthing that you can easily carry as we will be doing short walks around the woods. Should the weather be too hot or stormy then we will re-arrange. Please check your email and spam folder closer to the event for updates and, or cancellations due to weather conditions. Who is this for? Forest bathing is for anyone who would like to slow down, step away from the busyness of everyday life and reconnect with themselves and the natural world. It can be particularly helpful if you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, mentally tired or simply in need of some time and space to breathe, reset and recharge. Who is running these sessions? My name is Amy and I have been in the wellbeing industry for over 25 years in NHS, charity and local authority settings. Having retrained as a cognitive behaviour therapist, I have a particular interest in supporting people who feel overwhelmed by anxiety, stress and the demands of everyday life. Anxiety has been part of my own life for as long as I can remember. I know personally how it can affect your confidence, relationships, work and family life, and how difficult it can be when your mind feels like it just won’t switch off. My own experiences has shaped the way I work with others — with warmth, understanding and without judgement. Alongside my CBT practice, I now offer forest bathing as a different way to slow down, reconnect and create space to breathe. I believe that sometimes we need more than just a change in our thoughts; we also need time, nature and space to simply be. I am fully insured, have first aid training, am accredited by the BABCP as a therapist, and trained with 'Adore your Outdoors' for the forest bathing. Where are we meeting? The car park at Pansanger Lane in Hertford is a pay and display. I would recommend putting 3-4 hours on the parking. Pansanger Park Pansanger Lane Hertford SG14 We will be taking a short walk from the carpark to the woods. Please note: This is NOT Thieves Lane carpark. There are toilets at this site.