urban tree festival

Forest Bathing + Zine-Making for Inclusive Nature Access

Urban Tree Festival asked us to design events that would feel truly welcoming to people who don’t usually see themselves reflected in nature-based programming. We ran a forest bathing sensory walk suitable for disabled participants and a pair of zine-making workshops in partnership with local organisations serving women and migrants in Woolwich and Camden. These weren’t nature walks or creative workshops in the traditional sense.

created
experiences

Created hands-on, low-pressure experiences for groups underrepresented in green spaces to build belonging, not just awareness.

facilitated
workshops

Facilitated two zine-making workshops on the themes of roots and resilience for communities underrepresented in green spaces.

led a forest
bathing session

Led a gentle forest bathing session in an inner city square suitable for disabled participants and people with little time or access to far off woodlands.

Impact

Participants said they felt more grounded, more included, more at ease. The workshop participants made something tangible and everyone at all the festival events took something intangible home: calm, clarity and connection.

  • "Last night during a stressful moment, my mind jumped back to remembering the mandala that some of the group made with rocks, bricks, wood found from the walk. It made me have a firm, grounded thought to try and balance out the stress I was experiencing."

    Participant