Woodland trails cut anxiety by 31%, boost connection, study finds
London: Self-led woodland wellbeing trails can sharply reduce anxiety and strengthen people’s connection to others, according to new research on Forestry England’s nature-based mental health program.
Participants who followed the trails reported a 38% drop in rumination, a 31% reduction in anxiety, and a 20% rise in feelings of social connection, the study found. The trails are now installed at 18 Forestry England sites across the UK. They feature simple prompts that invite walkers to pause, notice their surroundings, and reflect on their relationship with nature.
The idea started with a chalkboard during the Covid pandemic. Ellen Devine, wellbeing programme manager at Forestry England, spotted a handwritten sign at Westonbirt Arboretum as the UK emerged from lockdowns.
“It said something along the lines of, ‘we can’t be together at the moment because of the Covid restrictions, but know that you’re not alone, and you’re always welcome here amongst the trees’,” Devine said. “I was having quite a difficult time, and it made me feel that little bit better.”
That moment inspired the self-led wellbeing trails launched in 2023. Designed to prompt people to slow down and reflect, the routes use themed panels with woodland facts, quotations, and simple mindfulness activities. To shape them, Devine worked with the University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness Research Group, alongside charities including Mind and Samaritans.
