The ‘International Day of Forests branches out on 21st March, celebrating the importance of forests and raising awareness about their conservation and sustainable management. Whether you’re a nature lover or an advocate for environmental protection, this day offers a chance to appreciate the beauty and significance of forests worldwide.

Image courtesy of AwarenessDays.co.uk

‘Forests are vital ecosystems that provide habitat for countless species, regulate the climate, and support the livelihoods of millions of people. International Day of Forests serves as a reminder of the urgent need to protect and restore forests for the well-being of present and future generations.' Courtesy of awareness-days.co.uk

'Roosevelt called them “the lungs of the Earth,” Robert Frost and millions of poets were inspired by them, and Sting is fighting to save them. We’re talking about forests. And celebrities aren’t the only ones who feel a strong connection with them. We all do. Just a simple walk in the woods can calm and invigorate our senses. In fact, the forests are so crucial to the future of our planet that the UN declared March 21 to be the International Day of Forests. For many years now, this amazing global celebration has been creating awareness all over the world about the importance of forests. They are one of our greatest natural treasures that we must preserve and protect.’ Courtesy nationaltoday.com/international-day-forests/

The International Day of Forests was established in 2013 by the United Nations General Assembly. The idea was to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests.

The Amazon Rain Forest courtesy of ‘calendarr.com/united-kingdom/international-day-of-forests/’

According to Wikipedia, we lose around 13 million hectares of forests annually. That’s a space roughly the size of England. Of course this means that with forest lost, we also lose plant and animal life.

Bluebell wood courtesy of Forestry England

Spring bud images from Forestry England

Forests are also homes to birds, butterflies, insects, small animals that live on land and water as well as larger animals like deer and common to the New Forest, horses and pigs!

Beaver - Forest of Dean, Forestry England

New Forest ponies courtesy of Jim Champion

‘Tell your stress to take a walk in the woods’
Jim Mumford, Owner and President of the Good Plant Company in San Diego, California wrote an enthralling piece about how the Japanese indulge in ‘Shinrin-yoku’ for our book ‘Plants for Wellbeing’ published in 2018.

“Shinrin-yoko or forest bathing is all about walking in forests to promote health.
When scientists started studying this practice, they found several positive things happening to those partaking in this practice.

• Blood sugar levels dropped, both after long or short distance walking
• Hormonal and nervous system functions improved
• Calorie burning increased
• Blood pressure and pulse rates dropped and heart rate variability stabilised
• Psychological before and after testing showed a significant decrease in hostility and depression scores
• Stress levels were reduced. The higher the stress, the greater the effect

“Studies repeatedly show positive physiological and psychological benefits from forest walking. The worse the stress, the better the results.

Walking in the forest courtesy of Foresty England

“It doesn’t really take a scientific study to understand that it’s good for our health to get outside, breathe in the oxygen-rich air produced by a forest while taking a brisk walk. We are free of the damaging blue light of our electronic devices assuming you don’t have your phone out!”