launch of Wicklow Forest Bathing
County Wicklow Partnership and Wicklow Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) are delighted to announce the launch of Wicklow Forest Bathing on Friday the 29th of October 2021. The launch will take place at the Glenview Hotel, Glen of the Downs, from 10.30a.m. to 1.00p.m. The LEADER Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 supported by County Wicklow Partnership funded the training of 12 Forest Bathing Guides in Wicklow. Each guide, with their own unique individual offering, will endeavour to establish Wicklow as the centre of Forest Bathing in Ireland.
Forest Bathing is a process of relaxation to reduce stress and help reconnect with nature. Forest bathing was developed in Japan as a national health programme. The simple method of being calm and present amongst the trees, observing nature around you, with all your senses, whilst breathing deeply has been proven to help boost health and wellbeing in a natural way (no swimsuit or bathing in water required!). Forest Bathing comes under the umbrella of nature-based solutions for health and well-being. There is currently an international focus on the development of new green jobs in forest-based care for both the ecotourism and green care sectors.
To ensure maximum success with lasting outcomes, the 12 new Wicklow guides went through two distinct programmes during their training: Forest Bathing Guide training and First Aid as well as a foundation course in entrepreneurial business thinking. The Forest Bathing Guide training programme was undertaken by Shirley Gleeson and Kerry Walker. Shirley is a nature & well-being consultant. She is the Managing Director of Ecowellness Consulting and the Co-Founder of Nádúr Centre for Integrative Forest Therapy. Shirley trains and mentors Forest Bathing Guides in Ireland and internationally and is the leading expert on Forest Bathing in Ireland. She is deemed an international expert in the area of nature and well-being. Kerry Walker is a passionate Forest School Leader, Forest Bathing Guide, Forest Therapy Practitioner, and an Art Therapist. The 15 week entrepreneurial business development programme was undertaken by The Entrepreneurs Academy.
Making comment prior to the Forest Bathing launch, Brian Carty, CEO at County Wicklow Partnership said:
“Our own well-being, that of our staff here at CWP, our colleagues and the many clients within the wider community that we work to support is of key importance to us here, especially when we consider the busy, stressful lives we all live now. So many of us are looking for a way to slow down, destress and take time out from the daily grind to look after our mental health. Both the company, the board of CWP and the Local Community Development Committee are today delighted to announce the launching of this project and to see our new 12 fully trained guides working to make Wicklow the centre of Forest Bathing.
It is without doubt, that our Garden County attracts high volumes of local, national and international day trippers and being so rich in publicly accessible forests. This gives Wicklow the perfect opportunity to promote, provide and welcome this project as a relatively new eco-wellness & tourism focused offering for 2022. Not only will it provide the opportunity to experience how these immersive walks can enhance general wellbeing. It will also promote the beauty of our existing forests and give an additional focus to bring those eco-wellness minded people to the more unusual forest paths that are so abundant in Co Wicklow.”
This exclusive launch event will take place from 10:30 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. on Friday the 29th of October 2021 at the Glenview Hotel, Glen of the Downs, Co. Wicklow.
The programme consists of a brief presentation on the benefits of Forest Bathing, a reading from our very special guest Irish poet Jane Clarke and a short immersive Forest Bathing experience within the beautiful grounds of the hotel. Please bring outdoor shoes and a rain jacket. Please contact www.wicklowforestbathing.ie or emurray@wicklowpartnership.ie for further details.
Forest Bathing in Wicklow is an exciting new collaboration between a group of specialist guides in Co. Wicklow, Ireland who each bring their own unique vision and skill set to their work. This pilot eco-tourism training programme initiative was developed by Co. Wicklow Partnership, Ecowellness Consulting and funded under the LEADER Rural Development Fund 2014-2020.
