Finding Calm in the Autumn Woods: A Forest Bathing Morning at Staunton Park

There’s something magical about stepping away from the busyness of life and letting nature do its work. On Wednesday 24th September, Red Squirrel OT CIC, together with Woodland Wellbeing, welcomed a group of people living with hoarding disorder to a special Forest Bathing taster session at Staunton Country Park, Havant.

It was the perfect autumnal day, blue skies overhead, a gentle chill in the air, and woodlands painted with the colours of the season. Participants were guided slowly through the park, encouraged to pause, notice, and breathe. Amongst the trees, they were invited into moments of meditation and reflection and later gathered in a clearing to share a poem together.

The experience was described as “nourishing to the soul.” One participant told us:

“I feel both physically and mentally more relaxed. It was a joy to simply stop and be present in such a beautiful place.”

Autumn proved to be a powerful teacher, showing us the grace of letting go. For many, this resonated with their own personal journeys. As one participant reflected, “I felt rewarded and refreshed, able to appreciate what nature was offering and take that with me.”

For the organisers, it was inspiring to watch the group embrace each invitation, and to see the bonding and support that developed naturally between participants.

Brigitte Hoare, Director of Red Squirrel OT CIC, said:

“It was wonderful to witness the group connecting with nature and with each other. The session brought calm, reflection, and a sense of hope. That’s exactly what we wanted to make possible.”

The morning left everyone with a renewed appreciation of nature’s healing power – a reminder that sometimes the most important step we can take is to simply pause, breathe, and notice the world around us.