England: Liam Grabel (Forest Bathing)

Program: UW Global Launch in London

For my forest bathing I attended James Park near Buckingham Palace; the park houses beautiful grounds with a large lake in the center. Although not the most secluded I still found calm, despite the small crowds, by walking adjacent to the lake. The park houses a number of water birds, some of which were new to me. For me the birds had the effect of removing me from the city briefly, creating moments of stillness. Some of the birds were also startling to see in London such as the pelicans, cormorants and moorhens which briefly distracted me as I was prompted to search up on my phone what they were, and how they got to the middle of London. A favorite moment from my time spent enjoying the park was when I found an empty bench by the water and was able to sit down, close my eyes and just listen. I of course heard the chatter of the crowds but alongside this I heard bird calls, rustling from nearby squirrels and the lapping of the water on shore. During this time my mind drifted towards the debate if I wanted to live in the city or countryside when I got older. During my time in London I have found the bustle of the city overwhelming at times but I have also grown to love it, with something always happening it is an amazing place to live. However it has contrasted with my love for nature and while reflecting I realized I do miss going for hikes and seeing nature more regularly. This led to my takeaway from forest bathing, which is the decision to get out of the city on some weekends and explore the beautiful countryside found in the UK.