England: Patrick Kahite (Forest Bathing)

Program: UW Global Launch in London

Sensory Immersion

• Sight: My eyes were constantly drawn to new things. I spent a long time observing the intricate, almost microscopic details of flowers I’d never encountered before, deep crimson petals with velvet textures, and succulents forming bizarre, geometric patterns. The scale and intricate Victorian ironwork of the Temperate House and the Palm House were also a major focal point, contrasting beautifully with the organic growth around them.
• Sound: Initially, I could hear traffic noise in the distance (maybe 5 or 6 cars). But as I moved deeper into a less crowded area, the stillness took over. I isolated the gentle crunch of my  shoes on the gravel, the high-pitched chatter of small birds hidden in the canopy, and the faint, rushing sound of the fountain in the distance.
• Smell: The air was complex. Near the herb garden, I got a sharp, earthy scent of wet soil and moss. Inside one of the glasshouses, the air became thick, humid, and intensely sweet, like a mix of tropical blooms and warm, damp earth.
• Touch: I consciously dragged my hand lightly across the rough bark of a mature oak tree and the smooth, cold surface of the Victorian glasshouse railing. The texture of a soft, silvery leaf I touched felt almost like velvet.
• Taste: While I didn’t eat anything, the clean, slightly sweet freshness of the air after passing a patch of spring flowers felt like a taste in my breath.

Listen to the sounds around you and count how many sounds you can hear. What do the moments of stillness feel like?

I counted about ten distinct sounds near the lake, including geese honking, a boat engine, and a faint laugh. However, the moments of deep stillness, especially when walking between the huge redwood trees felt like a physical release. It was a sense of being completely sheltered, like the world outside the Gardens had simply paused.

What questions did you consider during the exercise?

I found myself thinking: How many things in my daily routine do I experience without actually seeing them? and What would it be like to build something that lasts 300 years, like these trees or the older buildings here?

How did the time spent in nature spark new insights or learning?

I learned that true focus doesn’t just come from clearing your mind, but from filling it completely with the immediate surroundings. By concentrating on the difference between the texture of two types of bark or the shape of a single petal, I achieved a state of meditation I rarely find sitting still indoors.

How might you repeat this activity?

I plan to repeat this by visiting a smaller, local urban park (like a quiet square garden) but focusing only on one specific sensory area, maybe spending the entire 20 minutes just focusing on sound and trying to distinguish human made from natural sounds.