The National Forest Company has partnered with Airbnb to offer Forest Bathing via its Social Impact Experiences programme, with all profits going to support the National Forest.

Forest Bathing is the new way to immerse ourselves in trees and nature and clear our minds of everyday worries and distractions. Even the Duchess of Cambridge and singer Charlotte Church are talking about it!

Now you can try it for yourself in the National Forest in the Midlands.

Richard Drakeley, Tourism Development Manager, National Forest Company, said: “The National Forest is delighted to be working with Airbnb as part of its Social Impact Experiences programme. This allows a non-profit such as the National Forest Company to connect visitors to its cause through the creation of memorable visitor experiences. In these, our first pilot experiences, visitors will join a magical two hour Forest Bathing nature immersive experience (also known as Shinrin-yoku), where they will slow down, clear their mind and relax to the rhythm of the Forest.”

It is part of the ongoing development of the Forest to offer it as a backdrop for experiences. The National Forest began to take root in the former Midlands coalfield in the early 1990s, inspired by a vision to lead economic, social and environmental regeneration through the planting of trees. Steadily over the last quarter of a century, new tourism and woodland businesses have been establishing themselves to make the most of opportunities offered by the new landscape, offering employment, a better quality of life, and health and well-being benefits for residents and visitors.

Through the Airbnb platform, the National Forest Company has teamed up with Forest Bathing expert Shirley Gleeson to offer two introductory sessions in the Forest this July.

Shirley Gleeson is a certified Forest Therapy Guide, Mentor and Trainer with the European Forest Therapy Institute. She trains Forest Therapy Guides and has presented her work at international conferences, including the United Nations.

Shirley says: “Forest Bathing is where nature meets mindfulness. It is for anyone who wants to promote their health and wellbeing, reduce stress levels, improve sleep and enhance creativity.”

The introductory sessions will start at the YHA National Forest in Moira, Leicestershire. Each group is kept intentionally small, in order to ensure the best experience for everyone taking part. Under Shirley's careful lead, the group will head out into the young woodlands in the heart of the Forest for a two hour Forest Bathing walk. The walk will end with a tea ceremony, made from wild foraged plants.

As well as dressing for the weather and a walk in the outdoors, Shirley invites participants to bring 'an open mind and their curiosity'.

The walks will take place on Wednesday 3 July, 2- 4pm; and Thursday 4 July, 10-12 noon. Each place costs £20. 

For more information and to book, see https://www.airbnb.co.uk/experiences/878321

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Media contact:

Carol Rowntree Jones, Media Relations Officer, National Forest Company, on 01283 551211 email: crowntreejones@nationalforest.org

For background information on the National Forest see www.nationalforest.org    Digital images are available:  contact media@nationalforest.org

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The National Forest area covers 200 square miles of the counties of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire.  Its objective is to increase woodland cover within its boundaries from an initial six per cent to about a third. No multi-purpose forest on this scale has been created in the UK for one thousand years. More than 8.9 million trees have been planted so far, trebling the proportion of woodland cover in the Forest to 21 per cent. 
2. Year by year, the National Forest has been steadily turning what was once one of the least wooded areas of England into a multi-purpose, sustainable forest.  The National Forest provides environmental, social and economic benefits, including landscape enhancement, creation of new wildlife habitats and major new access and leisure opportunities. It is an excellent example of sustainable development – with environmental improvement providing a stimulus both to economic regeneration and to community pride and activity.
3. To achieve these objectives, the National Forest Company leads the creation of the National Forest, working in partnership with landowners, local authorities, private business, voluntary organisations and local communities and has strong support from Government, politicians and the public.  The Company, now also a charity, continues to receive grant support from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Charity no: 1166563.