England: Elizabeth Braun (Forest Bathing)

I took a walk on a whim through St. James Park, and after walking around I decided that it was the perfect place to forest bathe. Since it is fall, or autumn as they say in the UK, all the trees were filled with warm tones of gold, orange, and red. As I strolled along the path, I could hear the geese near the walkway honking, the leaves crunching under my steps, and some school children playing in the distance. It was calming seeing the sway of the willow leaves alongside the river that ran through the park. It was relaxing watching the trees’ leaves sway in the wind, the ducks and swans glide across the water. I wondered about the wildlife, as do they go from park to park or are they isolated on the little green patches strung throughout the city? It’s crazy that in a city as populated as London, after getting off the tube you can walk three minutes and find yourself surrounded by the beauty of nature. Whenever I take wonderful walks through nature such as this, I am always inspired to paint or draw what I see. Nature is one of my favorite subjects to draw because of how beautiful it is just by existing. I will continue taking strolls through parks even as the weather gets cooler, because no matter the season, walking amongst trees always brings me a sense of calmness.

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