And that’s exactly how my session unfolded. I was dubious about whether simply absorbing the atmosphere of a green space could soothe my busy mind, but was pleasantly surprised with the calming effects. We began with a slow stroll around the grounds, sat under an oak tree for a guided meditation and poetry reading with a cup of tea, and enjoyed some nature-based crafts. At the end there was time to reflect on my physical and mental state, and I will warn you, things can get a little emotional. Surprisingly, the tightness in my chest had eased, my breathing was naturally deeper, and my mind felt noticeably clearer. It turns out that spending a couple of hours outside with no agenda does actually work for feeling calmer.

Think of going to a practitioner-led forest bathing class like investing in a crash course for how to regulate your nervous system on demand. Just over 1 in 6 Britons report feeling stressed daily in 2026, with 66% of women experiencing stress weekly, and with growing geopolitical uncertainty and economic instability, finding ways to manage our stress and anxiety levels is crucial. “Forest bathing encourages coming out of our sympathetic nervous system—a state of arousal and fight, flight or freeze—and returning to our parasympathetic nervous system—a state of rest, digest, and repair,” explains Judge. “Spending time in nature has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce cortisol, balance blood sugar levels, and increase heart rate variability—all contributing to overall stress reduction and improved sleep. Some people even report a perceived reduction in pain and a ‘sense of being seen and held by nature,’ especially when participating in group forest bathing.”