Nature and Forest Therapy Experience at Denver Botanic Gardens

On a cold Saturday in winter, members of our palliative care team (some with children) stood in a circle surrounded by bare branched oak trees and participated in a wellbeing experience at  the Denver Botanic Gardens (DBG).  Tuning in to the cold air on our skin, the rattling of the oak leaves and cawing of crows, the soft light filtering through the trees and the earthy smell of the frozen ground, we grounded ourselves in our senses at the start of a nature and forest therapy walk.  For another hour, we continued to move through this space, each of us drawing attention to our experience with the natural landscape.  At the end we shared tea and talked about our experiences.  

We were led in this experience by 2 of our colleagues who are certified nature and forest therapy guides through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) and experts in the literature on nature and wellbeing.  ANFT envisions a world in which a reciprocal relationship between humans and nature is recognized and celebrated.  6 months of classes and a 4-day wilderness retreat were part of the ATNF training. 

The day turned out to be chaotic and lovely.  Despite interruptions from other DB G guests, a hat that escaped on a gust of wind and landed on the ice carpted creek and impatient toddlers,  the group was able to relax in each other’s company and felt supported by the land.  Highly recommended!

Read a paper by our colleagues who led the walk here, evaluating a walk with internal medicine residents:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38250708/