Reconnect with nature. Reconnect with yourself.

JOIN OUR NEXT WALK
People in a group therapy walk, following a trail and discovering nature along the way.

At Forest Connection, we offer guided Forest Therapy walks – a gentle, science backed practice inspired by the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-Yoku, or “forest bathing.”

Studies show that time in nature can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, support immune function, and boost mental clarity. But the true gift lies in what can’t be measured, a feeling of deep calm, belonging, and quiet magic that unfolds when you slow down and let the forest in.

Our walks are not hikes or workouts, they are invitations to pause, breathe, and experience the healing power of nature with all your senses. Nature has long been my co-regulator, my guide, and my greatest teacher.

Through Forest Connection, I offer walks that are inclusive, heart-opening, and deeply restorative, a place where everyone is welcome, and no experience is needed.

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"The forest is the therapist. You just need to turn up”

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Rooted in the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku (“forest bathing”), Forest Therapy is a research-backed method shown to:

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    Reduce cortisol (the stress hormone)

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    Lower heart rate and blood pressure

  • Illustration of three gum leaves and two gum nuts in bloom.

    Strengthen immune function by increasing natural killer (NK) cell activity

  • Illustration of a eucalyptus branch with leaves and small round gum nuts.

    Improve mood and focus

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    Support better sleep and mental clarity

A forest therapy guide sitting on the ground next to a large tree trunk in a forested area, using her senses to connect with nature and feel its sacred healing power.

Forest Therapy reconnects us with the Earth, with our senses, and with the quiet wisdom that lives within.

In a world that moves fast and demands more, Forest Therapy offers a sacred pause. It invites us to slow down, breathe deeply, and enter into a relationship with nature that is reciprocal, gentle, and healing.

Science is finally catching up with what Indigenous and ancient traditions have always known, through eco-psychology, forest medicine, and the concept of biophilia, we are learning how deeply and naturally the forest helps us restore and rebalance.

Beyond its measurable health benefits, Forest Therapy offers something even deeper – a chance to remember:

We are nature

We are not separate from nature – we are nature

We belong

That healing is not about fixing, but about belonging

Nature is magic

That the forest holds a quiet, ancient magic — waiting until we return

What is Forest Therapy?

Also known as Nature Therapy, Forest Bathing, or Shinrin-Yoku, Forest Therapy is an evidence-based public health practice that invites you into a deeper relationship with the natural world.

Rooted in the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which translates to “taking in the forest atmosphere” or “forest immersion,” Forest Therapy began in the 1980s as a response to rising stress levels. Since then, it has become globally recognized as a powerful, low-cost, and effective form of natural medicine.

In Forest Therapy, the forest becomes both therapist and medicine. The role of the guide is not to lecture or lead in the traditional sense, but to gently support your reconnection—with your body, your senses, and the living world around you.

What to Expect on a Forest Therapy Walk

Each walk is a unique journey, tailored to the land, the group, and the moment.

You’ll be warmly welcomed into a safe, inclusive space, open to all ages, bodies, and levels of ability, including those with limited mobility. (see each description of the walks) This is not a hike or a workout, but a gentle, sensory-rich journey through nature, covering around 2–3 km over 2 to 3 unhurried hours.

As your guide, I will gently offer a series of invitations, simple prompts that help you attune to the forest using your senses: sight, smell, touch, sound, and intuition. You may walk, sit, listen, touch, or simply be.

We move slowly, sometimes in silence, and there are opportunities to pause and share (only if you feel called). The experience often concludes with a Japanese-inspired tea ceremony, a quiet, heartfelt moment of stillness and gratitude. We gather in circle, sipping wild or native herbal tea, sharing reflections, and letting the forest settle gently within us.

People on a group therapy walk with their guide, taking a moment to look closely at the plants along the trail they walk.

Who Is It For?

Everyone. Whether you're feeling stressed, seeking clarity, craving stillness, or simply curious, Forest Therapy meets you exactly where you are.

This practice is suitable for:

  • All fitness levels

  • For people 13 years and over

  • People longing for reconnection, with themselves, with others, with nature

Come as you are.
Leave a little more whole.

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JOIN US FOR A WALK
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Hi, I’m Fine.

Your forest guide, nature dreamer and wild-hearted wanderer.

My relationship with the natural world has shaped the person I am today.

I was born in East Germany, where my earliest memories are of barefoot adventures beneath the whispering pines near Berlin, the forest was my playground, my comfort, and my first teacher.

Even as life carried me across countries and cultures, nature remained my anchor.

Every new place I called home, I leaned into fully learning the language, embracing the culture, and studying how women and children connect with the land around them.

I’ve always believed that when we nurture our children’s bond with nature, we’re planting seeds for a more connected, compassionate world.

My love of bees has taught me patience, rhythm, and reverence.

Learning the hand pan has reminded me that healing often sounds like music and silence, all at once.

I’m drawn to places where stories grow wild, where I can meet people, hear their truths, and witness their relationships with the earth.

Let’s walk together.

Let’s listen.

Let’s come home, to the land, and to ourselves.

Qualifications

I’m a Certified Forest Therapy Guide and a qualified Disability Support Worker with over 20 years of experience across high care, mental health, palliative care, and community support.

Holding space with compassion and integrity is the thread that runs through all I do, whether in the forest, by the fire, or walking beside someone on their life journey.

My qualifications include:

  • Certificate IV in Disability

  • Certified Forest Therapy Guide

  • Mental Health First Aid

  • First Aid & CPR

  • Soundbath Healing Practitioner

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A woman kneeling in a forest clearing, surrounded by trees, closing her eyes, breathing deeply and taking a moment to listen to her surrounds.
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Stories from the heart

It had been a while since I truly slowed down. Life is a constant to-do lists, digital screens, and noise I didn’t realize I was drowning in. When I signed up for a forest therapy walk with Fine, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect—only that I was craving quiet. At first, it felt strange to move so slowly. My legs wanting to go fast as usual, but I kept to the pace — unhurried, deliberate. Fine offered invitations rather than instructions: What does the forest sound like today? Notice what’s moving around you, and what isn’t. Let yourself be drawn — without needing to know why. The forest was alive, I realized, not just with movement but with presence. And slowly, I began to feel more alive too. There were moments of stillness — sitting on a mossy log, closing my eyes to listen to the wind rustle the trees and the waterfall near by. It wasn’t mystical. It was grounding.

We finished our walk with a simple tea ceremony on a hill. The tea was calming. As we sat in a circle, sipping slowly, Fine invited us to share anything we felt moved to. Some people spoke. Others didn’t. There was no pressure, only presence. I left the forest lighter than I had entered. Not in the dramatic, transformational sense you might read about in books — but in a quieter, more enduring way. I felt reconnected—not just to nature, but to myself. I carried a sense of stillness home with me, like a small stone in my pocket I could reach for when life sped up again. The forest reminded me of something I often forget: Healing isn’t about doing more — but about simply being, and listening. Thanks for the great experience!

ANDREA