LAKELAND Wellbeing collaborates with an author to create a mindful writing and forest bathing retreat. 

Author Alys West is offering a unique forest bathing and mindful writing retreat day at Wordsworth Grasmere on Saturday, April 30 2022. 

 Expert evidence shows that time spent in nature can significantly improve our well-being and that the Japanese practise of shinrin yoku or forest bathing is good for both physical and mental health.

Similarly, studies have shown that writing can improve mental health and increase self-awareness. Lakeland Wellbeing and Alys West are bringing these two aspects together to offer a unique day retreat at Wordsworth Grasmere which will promote wellbeing and calm through interacting with nature.

Jen has been running forest bathing at Whinlatter Forest for 3 years and has seen the incredible benefits to participants after taking part. “Nature,” she says, “is a wonderful place to relax and heal; in nature, there is no judgement, just acceptance and space to breathe.”

Alys West is an author and creative writing tutor based in East Yorkshire. Her writing engages with the importance of the natural world and our connection with it.

As a tutor, she has worked with students from a wide variety of backgrounds and witnessed the benefits to their well-being from engaging in writing.

Alys said: “Writing can be a really important tool for self-care. Writing about nature can be particularly powerful and it’s very exciting to have the opportunity to write in woodland that has such a strong literary heritage.”

If you’re interested in taking part in the retreat the cost is £70 including lunch and refreshments.