Downpatrick writer is branching out with forest bathing therapy

Downpatrick writer is branching out with forest bathing therapy

11 June 2025

A DOWNPATRICK writer and journalist is branching out to bring the Japanese-inspired practice of forest bathing to local woodlands.

Tony Bailie is one of the few qualified forest therapy practitioners working on the island of Ireland.

There is a growing body of scientific evidence to show that forest bathing can help boost our immune systems and is beneficial to improving mental health.

Tony has has teamed up with Newry, Mourne and Down Council to bring forest bathing to council-run woodlands at Castlewellan Forest Park and Delamont Country Park.

“We all know that being out in nature – by the sea, in the mountains or in forests – is good for us, but researchers in Japan wanted to know why and began to look at the impact that spending time in woodlands has on people,” Tony explained.

“They found that organic compounds produced by trees can help boost the human immune system and improve our moods.

“Research carried out in other countries, including by the NHS Health Research Authority, has also found evidence that spending time in woodland, particularly in a mindful way, can improve our health.”

Tony, who has worked as a journalist with BBC NI, the Daily Mirror, Sunday Life and The Irish News, is also a novelist and award-winning poet.

He said he first became aware of forest bathing, known by its Japanese name Shinrin Yoku, during a trip to Japan two years ago where he saw it at first hand in woodlands outside Kyoto.

“I wanted to know more and so took a course with a Complementary Medical Association-registered college in England,” he said.

“A lot of the study involved a deep dive into the scientific research that has been carried out into the health benefits of forest bathing, but also on creating sensory invitations and meditations that can help people to slow down and connect at a very deep level with our woodlands.”

Tony began taking out groups of people this year and he has described the feedback as “inspiring”, with even those who spend a lot of time in woodland telling him that forest bathing affected them in a “very profound and positive way”.

“I have been working closely with Council forest managers to identify quiet spaces at Castlewellan and Delamont where I can now bring people to experience Shinrin Yoku for themselves,” he added.

Dates and times for forest bathing at Castlewellan and Delamont throughout the summer are now available on www.visitmournemountains.co.uk or at Tony’s website www.crannforesttherapy.com.