Forest Therapy Trail Consultation

The concept of Forest Bathing, also known as Forest Therapy, is gaining global recognition as an evidence-based approach to wellness and health. Forest Bathing sessions consist of gentle walks in which a guide uses a range of techniques aimed primarily at slowing people down from what has become a “normal” frenetic pace and calling attention to sensory experiences of the forest and its environment. Trails used for forest therapy can be in backyards, local, state or national parks, and more traditional settings, like arboretums and botanical gardens, while other places might include spas, hospital gardens, farms, urban parks, retreat centers, and many more. More recently, trails around the world have begun to be assessed and certified as having desirable characteristics for an optimal forest bathing experience. These trails have gone through a rigorous assessment of a range such as accessibility, safety, biodiversity, natural features, and management. Additionally, how the infrastructure and signage can promote both guided and self-guided Forest Therapy experiences on the trail is considered. The intention is to affirm the beauty and dignity of all ecosystems, and so a simple question to ask in the beginning is, “‘Is this a place where people connect deeply with nature?”’ If the answer is ‘yes,’ then we believe this is a good candidate trail. — Urban Edge Forest Therapy

Christine Tappan is a certified Trail Consultant through Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Programs (ANFT). Trail certification provides a new method for engaging diverse community members, public health providers and patients, national and international tourists, and a wide array of partners in the development and implementation of Certified Forest Therapy Trail systems. Health care organizations, employee wellness programs, municipalities and park systems, public and private forest land managers, universities, organizations that promote healthy living, and many more, are potential partners for developing Forest Therapy programs and trails. Maintaining signage promoting designated Forest Therapy Trails increases public awareness of the health benefits of being in forests. An official ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Trail sign will likely pique the curiosity of visitors and propel them to seek more information about Forest Therapy and associated events and programming.