TRAVEL TREND
Nature fans can add a wellness boost to their next UK break, thanks to the latest Japanese therapy to hit our shores. And, despite its name, you can keep your clothes on. Developed in the 1980s, shinrin-yoku – ‘taking in the forest atmosphere’ or ‘forest bathing’ – is a guided walk through woodlands, with a focus on gentle exercise, breathing and observing the wonders of nature to reduce stress and blood pressure, and increase focus and energy levels. Mindfulness with trees then, rather than a Sunday morning hike. There’s also evidence that time spent in forests can boost your immune system, thanks to phytoncides in the environment: substances secreted by plants that help protect against damage inflicted by insects and funghi.