Based on sylvotherapy (forest therapy) training and scientifically backed studies, it has been found that you don’t actually need to be standing in the forest to receive some of the benefits of trees. Our nervous systems are beautifully responsive and even small, intentional connections with nature can make a difference to our wellbeing. While nothing fully replaces time in a living, breathing forest — with its deep physiological and psychological benefits, for now, let’s look at what’s available when we don't have forest access. Here are a few simple, accessible ways to connect with trees wherever you are: 🍃 1. Look at trees (yes, even photos count) Research shows that viewing images of trees or natural landscapes can reduce stress, calm the nervous system, and improve mood. Try: - A tree photo as your phone or computer background - A picture or photo of a tree on your wall - Just sit and spend some time looking at this tree, noticing its shape, shades of green, branches and so on. 💚 2. Green is medicine The colour green is strongly associated with balance and restoration. Exposure to green tones has been linked to: - Reduced cortisol (stress hormone) - Improved focus and mental clarity - Gentle regulation of heart rate and breath - Houseplants, green clothing, green walls, or sitting near a window with trees in view all count. 🌿 3. Bring trees indoors Houseplants act as living allies. Caring for them builds relationship, rhythm, and presence. They can also support air quality and humidity — subtle but meaningful physical benefits. I love to gently touch and talk with all my houseplants. 🌬️ 4. Essential oils as “forest memory” Certain essential oils capture the aromatic compounds released by trees in forests — the same compounds we breathe during shinrin-yoku (forest bathing). Tree-based oils such as: - Cypress - Douglas fir - Hinoki - Spruce - Cedarwood can support calm, grounded focus when diffused or gently inhaled. Some blends are designed specifically for this purpose — for example, doTERRA Shinrin-Yoku blend, inspired by forest bathing practices. I was very lucky to have been gifted a bottle of this from some guests and I have really enjoyed it, especially while not being able to access the forest due to my injury.

Some cultures and traditions walk with names that reflect their relationship to the land and to life. In this space, you’re invited — if you wish — to walk with a tree name. It’s not a label or an identity. It's a reflection of where you are, not who you must be. Names can change as seasons change, it may change tomorrow, it may stay the same for many years to come. You’re welcome to share yours below, or simply hold it quietly for yourself.

When I walk into the forest, something in me softens. The outer world falls away, and I feel a deeper connection with myself and the earth beneath my feet. There is a sense of spaciousness, clarity, and a wider perspective. My body often understands before my mind does. This hasn’t always come easily. Like any relationship, it has taken time and attention — and the more I return, the more naturally it arrives. What shifts in you when you enter the forest? 🌳 If you don't have a forest to walk within, imagine yourself walking into this photo, feel the cool leaves and soil beneath your bare feet, smell the scent of the forest, hear the leaves rustling in the gentle breeze and the birds singing, see all the shades of greens 🌳 Photo credit: @Harry_NZ (Insta) aka: hubby and the other half of My Tree Legacy

For years I felt this quiet heaviness about the state of the planet. I didn’t have a name for it then, but now I know it was eco-anxiety — that feeling of, “The problem is so huge… what can I actually do?” And like most families, our budget wasn’t endless. I needed something real, simple, and genuinely impactful. That’s when the simple act of planting a tree hit me. 🌿 The more I learned, the more I realised 🌿 - Trees breathe with the planet, literally cleaning and balancing the air. - Their roots form underground networks that feed and communicate with other trees and life. - Their leaves send signals above the ground to protect and support the forest around them. - They are energetic beings that stabilise, ground, and soften the land. And the part that shifted everything for me? 🌱 Planting a tree is simple and accessible 🌱 - One action. - Low cost. - Big impact. 🌏 Does One Tree Really Matter? Yes. One tree stores carbon, creates habitat, stabilises soil, feeds ecosystems, cools the land, and becomes part of a much bigger whole. 🌳 One tree becomes a grove. 🌳 A grove becomes a forest. 🌳 And a forest changes everything. 🌳 🌱 A Gentle Invitation If you’ve ever felt that ache about the planet and wanted to help in a real, tangible way… Start with one tree. It’s one of the simplest, most meaningful actions you can take — and it truly does make a difference. It makes me feel better every day about my children's future being able to create tangible and meaningful change 💚