Forest Bathing and Aromatherapy Experience at Dr Neil's Garden

Dr Neil's Garden in Duddingston is hosting a forest bathing and aromatherapy day on Saturday 7 November, from 10:30am to 3pm. It's a full morning and early afternoon, with doors opening at 10:20am.

The day is split between two things. The first half is forest bathing, led by guide Rosie. If you've never come across it, forest bathing — or shinrin yoku in Japanese — isn't a hike, a retreat or a meditation class. It's a gentle, guided walk rooted in mindfulness, designed to get you to pause and connect with the land and with the people around you. It's about spending quiet, unhurried time among the trees rather than trying to get anywhere in particular.

The second half is an aromatherapy workshop led by aromatherapist Gill, built around essential oils curated for the turning season. Both facilitators bring their own practice to the day: Rosie is a forest bathing guide and psychotherapist who crafts nature-connection experiences in wild spaces and gardens; Gill's work ranges from handmade products to bespoke commissions, guided by the seasons and the belief that scent can shift how a space or a moment feels.

There's a bit of research behind the forest bathing side of things, too. The practice is linked to lower cortisol, reduced blood pressure and strengthened immune function, and it's now prescribed in Japan and South Korea for its effect on creativity. The setting fits the mood: Dr Neil's Garden was created in 1963 by two local GPs who wanted people to slow down and experience the quiet power of nature.

Tickets are £88 per person, which includes a £5 donation to the garden. It runs from 10:30am to 3pm on Saturday 7 November at Dr Neil's Garden, Old Church Lane, Duddingston, Edinburgh EH15 3PX.