There’s something so magical and restorative about walking in the woods, the herbaceous smells, hearing the gentle breeze whisper in the leaves and the rustle and crunch beneath your feet. Spending mindful time in nature is so precious to me, it clears my busy mind and allows me to escape from the pressures of everyday life, it feeds my spirit, whilst restoring an innate connection with mother earth.
An old photo I found from a woodland walk a few years ago, taken by Bill Bradshaw
There is also science that supports the benefits. Time in nature restores balance, lowers cortisol levels and even improves concentration and memory. In fact, a chemical released by trees and plants called phytoncides has been found to boost the immune system…so go ahead and hug a tree it’s good for you! The Japanese have understood the value of this for years and prescribe forest bathing (known in Japan as shinrin-yoku) to improve well-being. In June of this year, the Woodland Trust suggested that forest bathing should be among a range of non-medical therapies recommended by GPs to boost well-being here in the UK too. It is deeply healing to spend time beneath the canopy of trees. To find out more about forest bathing and find a local event see www.tfb.institute
I have become even more intrigued by nature’s giants, as I recently read ‘The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate’ it’s amazing stuff and reveals just how intelligent and incredible trees really are; ‘Peter Wohlleben shares his deep love of woods and forests and explains the regeneration he has observed in the woodland and the amazing scientific mechanisms behind these wonders, of which we are blissfully unaware. Much like human families, tree parents live together with their children, communicate with them, and support them as they grow, sharing nutrients with those who are sick or struggling. Wohlleben presents the science behind the secret and previously unknown life of trees and their communication abilities; he describes how these discoveries have informed his own practices in the forest around him. As he says, a happy forest is a healthy forest, and he believes that eco-friendly practices not only are economically sustainable but also benefit the health of our planet and the mental and physical health of all who live on Earth.’
It’s not just our well-being that is supported by forests, a new quantitative study has shown that forest restoration is overwhelmingly the top solution to fighting climate change and one we can all get involved with. As trees grow, they absorb and store the carbon dioxide emissions that are driving the climate crisis and begin to reverse the damage.
At MOA, our commitment to the planet informs all that we do from making sure our products are free of any nasty chemicals to making sure our packaging is as eco as possible. Our latest effort in increasing sustainability is a collaboration with Rising Forests who are working to combat the global climate crisis one tree at a time. Their work goes towards a range of environmental sustainability efforts from research into forestry conservation as well as investment into expanding the UK’s woodland and forest areas and we couldn’t be more excited to be helping them with their cause. For every one of our gift sets sold, Rising Forests will plant a tree!
Our MOA gifts sets make a beautiful gift for someone special and what’s more a tree is planted for each one sold and what could be more appropriate at Christmas time than a Christmas tree?!
