'Connect with natural world through forest bathing'

A woman who runs forest bathing sessions in Kent says she believes people have "disconnected" from the natural world.

Tansy Jane Dowman, from Edenbridge, runs regular mindfulness and meditation sessions at Hever Castle.

"We have disconnected ourselves from the natural world, we have taken a gigantic step away," she said.

Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, is a Japanese pastime encouraged by the Japanese government in the 1980s as a way for people to escape the pressures of modern life.

Tansy said forest bathing involved immersing yourself in nature, slowing down your walking and removing common distractions such as mobile phones.

She said using all of your senses is what differentiates the practice from a normal walk.

Her sessions include personal growth work and encourage people to think about how they relate to nature, she said.

Tansy said: "Even in times where cost of living is high I think people are still really invested in wanting to take care of themselves."

Caroline Parfitt, an occupational therapist at Oak Therapies, in Ashford, said being outside helped people's nervous systems to relax.

Ms Parfitt said most people were "living in a heightened state due to stress levels" and said "when we're outside we will sync with nature which is a natural place and our nervous system will rest".

She said this reduced people's heart rates and regulated temperature and muscles.

Tansy said she discovered forest bathing when she was struggling with her own mental health.

After training to become a life coach, she began introducing forest bathing into her sessions.

"It was incredible, the effect of walking and talking with people," she said.

Now, all her sessions focus on being outside as she says "nature is a great teacher".

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