Forest Therapy (Shinrin-yoku), also known as ‘forest bathing’ or ‘forest immersion walk’, is a process that allows us to return to nature and reconnect with ourselves. Originating in the 1980s from Japan's Forestry Agency, it encourages people living and working in large cities to take leisurely walks in nature to relax their minds and bodies. Recent studies have shown that forests are filled with phytoncides, negative ions and clean air, all of which help improve sleep quality, reduce stress, and promote physical and mental health.

Since 2018, KFBG has been offering this unique experience, designed according to the standards set by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT). We have created a series of ‘forest invitations’, led by certified forest therapy guides, allowing participants to slowly open their senses and mindfully experience the surrounding environment. Here, we can not only take quiet walks and listen to the sounds of birds but also allow our spirits to find deep healing in nature's embrace.

Whether it’s the swaying of a leaf or the penetration of a ray of sunlight, these are nature’s calls to us. Through contact with nature, we can release more space and tension in our bodies and minds, feel the stability that the forest provides, and rediscover that sense of tranquillity. On this journey, there is no right or wrong; it is not only a physical wandering but also a way to establish a healing relationship with nature, allowing it to nourish our bodies and minds.

KFBG is located in one of Hong Kong's most beautiful forests, inviting you to come, rest and heal. Let the forest be our therapist – guiding, supporting and healing our body and mind.

KFBG has recorded a series of audio versions of the ‘forest invitations’. Click HERE to experience a connection with nature online.

Forest Therapy Content
The entire experience lasts two to three hours, during which a forest therapy guide invites you to gradually let go of the tension and chaos of daily life, allowing your body and mind to become immersed in the natural environment.

1. Pleasure of Present: Open up your senses to fully observe nature; listen to your inner feelings.
2. Slow Wander in the Forest: Walk at a leisurely pace in the forest; relax and embrace the present moment.
3. Forest Invitations^: Create memorable experiences together and share from the heart.
4. Tea Ceremony: Express gratitude to the forest and share tea with the group at the end of your  journey.
5. Nature Craft Workshop*: Bird’s Nest Fern Kokedama Workshop or Orchid Planting Workshop, or Hammered Leaf and Flower Prints Workshop.

^ The invitations will change according to the nature of the group and the weather conditions.
* Available for additional purchase only.

Facilitators
Certified Forest Therapy Guide by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy

• Holly Ho (KFBG Education Officer)
• June Ngan
• Eliz Leung
• Wai Law 

Capacity
Minimum 12 people
*If the group size is more than 30 people, please email us for inquiries.

Fee
HK$325 per person
*20% off for registered schools and charity organisations
*Including admission fee and workshop fee

Additional activities: Fees are based on the natural workshops attended. Please email us for inquiries.

Transportation

• Shuttle bus services can be arranged (additional charges apply) to and from designated locations and KFBG
• We encourage visitors to use public transportation to reduce carbon footprint. Click HERE for details.
• Parking spaces are extremely limited at our venue. Participants must reserve parking spaces online in advance.

Note
Payment is not refundable after acceptance, unless the programme is cancelled due to inclement weather.

Application
Please submit your online application at least one month before the event day. We will notify the applicants about the results by email.

Feedback from previous participants

• ‘The experience at Kadoorie Farm made me reflect on how learning doesn't just happen through books and within school campuses, but also outside in the natural environment. Connecting with nature deepens self-awareness through the exchange of different senses.’
• ‘I felt the love that nature gave me throughout the process, and it felt so real. I also discovered many internal feelings of love that I don't normally observe in myself. Even now that I'm back in the city, that feeling remains.’
• ‘Slow down and take a moment to feel the nurturing nature that surrounds us.’
• ‘The gentle sunlight and cool breeze made me feel incredibly comfortable. My mood quickly eased.’
• ‘Wandering in a forest is a form of enjoyment in life.’
• ‘During the forest therapy, it made me reconsider the relationship between humans and nature. Due to the rapid development of cities, people seem to be growing more distant from the ecological environment, lacking the ability to listen to the sounds of nature.’

Enquiry
Contact Ms Holly Ho at 2483 7111 / Ms Joanna Li at 2483 7112 during office hours or email education@kfbg.org .

Related Links

• Kadoorie Earth Programme (KEP) is an initiative co-created by KFBG and its network of collaborators and volunteers. By integrating the various strands of KFBG’s nature conservation, sustainable living and holistic education programmes, it provides life-transforming learning experiences that reconnect people with themselves, each other and the rest of nature and enable them to cultivate resilience in the face of global challenges.

• Nature Art Programmes: Immerse yourself in silent contemplation of nature. Deepen your awareness of beauty and connect with nature through art. KFBG organises a variety of art workshops including Zentangle drawing, sketching and wood art, and exhibitions to guide participants, with or without artistic background, to create nature art.

• Nature Education Programmes: Become animal detectives and explore the mysteries of wild animals. Use different senses to discover the beauty of plants. Learn about the significance of forest, trees and even soils through field visits, experiments and woodwork, to reconnect with nature.

• Group Guided Tours: Led by trained environmental interpreters, the content includes experiential and hands-on activities. We encourage a passion for nature, conservation and ecology by nurturing an appreciation of the natural world.
  
  
• Corporate Programmes: Our Holistic Education Department staff can design either half-day or full-day nature education and art programmes for  corporate staff or their family members based on specific needs. Leveraging the unique natural landscape and cultural ambiance of Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, our activities may include guided tours, farm-to-table experiences, nature-based workshops, talks and art activities, aiming to promote understanding and practice of sustainable living for organisations.