This time last year, an impromptu conversation with a colleague changed my life. “Why don’t you apply for a Churchill Fellowship?” he said. “I think you have a really good idea”.
So I did, and this blog will tell the story of what happened next.
I am a GP, I live on the South Coast in the UK, and have a busy, fulfilling life. The natural world has been a comfort, a meditation, an inspiration and a challenge throughout the years. At times of stress and overwhelm, going to the seafront, walking in the rain, or immersing myself amongst the trees has provided a much needed reset.
My sister, living in California at the time, was inspiring me on her own journey. She trained as a Forest Therapist and started doing nature-based schools work.
In my professional life, I was supporting families who had children with emotional dysregulation and neurodiversity who were waiting for years for a diagnosis. I was talking to teachers and colleagues about the anxiety “epidemic” amongst our young people, and I was increasingly aware of the number of young people at risk of exclusion.
In my personal life, my teenage son was diagnosed with ADHD, and we started to help him navigate the system himself- should we try medication, or coaching, or family therapy? How can we help him? How can there be so little around for young people and their families? We noticed fear around working with adolescents, overstretched charities, volunteers at the edge of their capabilities.
The germ of an idea started- like the energy within a seed. How about Nature Therapy Days for young people? With my background in General Practice, knowledge of social prescribing and mental health, and my sister’s in Forest Bathing, could we do something useful?
"Even a small amount of time in nature can have an impact on our health". Forest bathing can help people de-stress, relax, and unplug from technology” Prof Li
My son started working on his grandfather’s farm- we all noticed the difference in his self esteem and emotional regulation. I started to research local charities, Jamie's Farm, Green social prescribing, and Amaze.
And yes, I applied for the Churchill Fellowship. The interview typified my life at the time, having to connect via Zoom during a busy GP on call day, but I think my research to date, my motivation, and my (bordering on manic) enthusiasm came across, and I was awarded the grant.
I will be travelling to Canada, specifically British Columbia. The natural wilderness and scale of the topography has inspired therapists to run nature based “walk and talk”, and ecotherapy sessions, and there is a world-leading Park Rx scheme which accepts nature based “prescriptions” from health professionals and schools.
Then to Japan, the birthplace of Forest Bathing, Shinrin-Yoku. I have been lucky enough to be guided on some forest bathing walks by my sister, but The Forest Bathing Institute has some in depth information about this ancient practice of nature-based meditation. It will be an incredible privilege to visit the National Shinrin Yoku park trails, and to speak to the research teams at Tokyo university who are conducting research on the benefits of Forest therapy. Who are collecting data about the benefits to the autonomic system, to stress modification and the reduction in number of deaths by suicide. Benefits are also seen in populations such as those with a history of trauma and who have diagnoses of dementia.
"When you connect to nature through all five of your senses, you begin to draw on the vast array of benefits the natural world provides". Prof Li
I will be updating this blog as I go, and will provide references and links. I aim to use this year to learn from colleagues in different parts of the world who are experienced in guiding Nature based activities. I would love to share my experiences.
Follow on instagram @roots_nature_therapy or Substack @krush15 for updates.
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