​Lately, mention of “forest bathing” increasingly pops up in the media. As with so many health and wellbeing trends, it hails from Asia but unlike others the concept of Shinrin-yoku or “forest bathing” is a fairly new one. In fact, the term was only coined in 1982 by the Director of the Japanese Forestry Agency and originally was more of a marketing exercise to entice the population into visiting the many beautiful forests of Japan. Since then, however, serious research has looked into the many benefits of being in nature which most people intuitively feel. Professor Yoshifumi Miyazaki, author of the book reviewed here, was among the first of these scientists.

​By Stefanie Rudolph (blogging at www.lifeinplants.com , where a longer version of this first appeared)

​The publication by Natural England last month, of 'Good practice in social prescribing for mental health: the role of nature-based interventions' will be of particular interest to anyone working in mental health care.
 
We include a link to the publication and to an earlier Natural England report 'A review of nature-based interventions for mental health care' upon which the new research was built.
 
http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5134438692814848
 
http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/4513819616346112 

What sort of household medicine was available in seventeenth-century England? A newly published book draws on original archives to show the extent of self-help used by families and explores their favourite medicinal remedies, some purchased and others made up from recipes...

An independent report, commissioned by the National Gardens Scheme, on the benefits of gardens and gardening for health.

This book is written & edited by two friends & colleagues with whom I write & publish in the US. - Landscape Architect, Daniel Winterbottom and Occupational Therapist, Amy Wagenfeld. The exciting possibilities of trans-disciplinary creative endeavor drive our collaborations. That same spirit created the thoughtful insight behind the text of this book, whose premise is that responsive and intentional design should arise from a comprehensive ‘briefing’ process in which all ‘actors’ and ‘stakeholders’ voices are heard and responded.

Michael Westley of Westley Design Ltd reviews...

Published in Allergy Today, 2016

Shenagh Hume has over 20 years’ experience as a registered nurse specialising in asthma and allergy.  Shenagh is also a graduate in Garden Design from Capel Manor and now uses her unique experience to advise on allergies in gardens and public places.  Her article Pollen: Friend or Foe discusses the part played by pollen in the increase of allergy, especially in urban areas.

​For those who suffer from allergies, the prospect of spending a sunny afternoon in the garden can be far from pleasurable. As the factsheet produced by Allergy UK advises, while allergies cannot be cured, there are many ways to reduce symptoms and to avoid the triggers.

For further information, please see the Allergy UK website.