Forest bathing, 'shinrin-yoku', was developed in Japan during the 1980's & has become a popular method of relaxation in a country where people live in an increasingly urban society. It simply involves being in the forest to connect with nature and has become a proven method of improving people's mental & physical health. Interestingly, chemicals called phytoncides released by trees, have been found to boost the human body's immune system.
In Europe the value of a forest environment in the education & development of children was first recognised in a major way in Denmark during the 1950's when the concept of 'forest schools' was first developed. The idea quickly spread to Sweden where the concept was further developed as 'skogsmulle' ('school of the forest troll'). Thereafter, forest schools sprang up all over the world with the common ethos of nurturing & promoting feelings of empathy for others & nature; sustaining & improving both mental & physical health ; & building confidence & independence.
A recent study in Finland pointed to major health benefits for children exposed to a natural forest environment. A small number of gravel yard type playgrounds in 2 Finnish towns were converted into mini forests by replacing the gravel with natural forest turf & planting native shrubs & mosses. The children in the study were allowed into the play areas for a given time each day & encouraged to play with the turf & plants. The children's immune systems were checked before the study & 28 days after exposure to the newly converted playgrounds. It was found that the diversity of microbes on the children's skins was 1/3rd higher than those still playing on the gravel yards & significantly increased in their guts.
Analysis of blood samples showed beneficial changes related to the functioning of the immune system.
These results could have major implications regarding the rising rate of so-called autoimmune diseases such as asthma, eczema & multiple sclerosis among children in the western world. Many authorities believe that children are being exposed to far fewer microbes than in the past & that this leads to the immune system being less challenged & therefore more prone to making mistakes. Previous studies have shown a statistical association between exposure to microbial diversity & the development of a well-functioning immune system.
Figure 2: Three generations in our local park
