International Forest Day 2025

Today is International Forest Day 2025. Learn about the wellbeing and healing effect our forests can have for us.

You may not have heard the phrase shinrin-yoku. However the concept behind it has long been recognised for its health benefits and contribution to disease prevention. The Japanese expression means “taking in the forest atmosphere”  –  or forest bathing to give it a more poetic translation. Physiological experiments in forest bathing measure central nervous and autonomic nervous activity. Allowing the five senses to immerse oneself in the forest experience has been shown to have a therapeutic effect on stress responses.

Given the importance of forests for the well-being of our bodies and of the planet, it’s concerning that we annually lose 10 million hectares of forest to deforestation and 70 million to fires. Protecting our forests is crucial, and to that end, the United Nations has declared the 21st of March an annual International Day of Forests

Forests and Health 2025

The theme of this year’s celebration is “forests and food” to reflect the fact that more than five billion people rely on forests and forest products for food, medicine and livelihoods. In some countries, forests and trees provide around 20% of income for rural households.

Here in Scotland, we are forest-impoverished. According to Global Forest Watch, just over 3% of our land is covered in forests, in contrast to other European countries. Ireland, for example, has 7.3% tree cover, Poland 13%, Germany 16% and Sweden has a whopping 36%.

Edinburgh’s forests 2025

In Edinburgh, though, we’re lucky enough to be close to several beautiful green spaces, if not ancient woodlands.  If you pine (no pun intended) for an immersive forest experience, you don’t even need to leave the city centre. Why not head out to  Colinton Dell via the Water of Leith, the Hermitage of Braid nature reserve, or  Corstorphine Hill, the most westerly of Edinburgh’s seven hills.

If you fancy going a bit further afield, why not visit Roslin Glen, Cardrona Forest near Peebles, or Butterdean Wood near Tranent which is being restored to native woodland.

While you’re there – stop, look around, smell the wood, listen to the call of the green woodpecker. And bathe in all that intoxicating fresh air. And may your visit be filled with shinrin-yoku.

By Lesley McRobb

Photo by Lukasz Szmigel 

Read more about well-being and nature on a previous post