In this post, I reflect on my frequent visits to nearby woodlands, particularly from spring to summer. I have made the effort to intentionally notice the way the woodland changes with the seasons, as well as how I experience it. The unseasonal heatwave intensifies the sensory experience of the forest. The practice of forest bathing enhances my appreciation of nature, highlighting humanity’s connection to the environment.
Note: This post explores the psychological and wellbeing benefits of nudity and naturism within natural environments. It contains illustrations depicting nudity and the human form.
There are some nice woodlands close to where I live. I visit them several times a week – especially in the spring and summer – for walks and to engage in forest bathing. I have been to this patch of woodland several times since the middle of April this year and have made the effort to notice the transition from spring to summer.
There was a profusion of bluebells on the woodland floor in the spring…
… then the gradual growth of foliage in the shrub layer followed by the development of a dense canopy in early summer.
Over the last two or three weeks, the sounds of birdsong have been more intense and noticeable. Rabbits and squirrels are more common, molehills are appearing and woodland species of butterflies are making an appearance. Yesterday, I saw a woodpecker.
I noticed some other things too.
At the time of writing (24 June, 2026), here in Southern England, we are experiencing an unseasonal heatwave with record-breaking temperatures being predicted. In the early hours of yesterday morning, there were intense thunderstorms and heavy downpours. The woodland floor was damp and the air was still and humid.
The first thing I noticed was the smell. They were so much more intense than normal. Sweet floral notes and earthy, mossy, fungal vegetal odours combined in ways that were surprising.
The way my skin felt was very different. The warm, still, humid air felt as if it was enveloping me. Just about every one of my senses was awakened and seemed more sensitive.
The contrast between yesterday and three days before was remarkable.
That contrast in experience may be because I have been making an effort to notice my environment more – something that is an essential component of the practice of forest bathing. It is almost certainly amplified by being able to experience a totally immersive sensory experience by being naked. I am sure that the changes in the way the air felt wouldn’t have been as obvious were my skin to be covered.
Aletheia is all about experiencing the truth of the environment and our unconcealed place in it. This purposeful noticing of the environment, rather than the passive acceptance of our place in it really makes a difference to my appreciation of nature, our vulnerability in its majesty, but also the way that nature changes over time.
I am not a religious person, and I have written before about my humanist outlook. However, immersion in natural places explains why so many religions are rooted in respect and worship of nature – human survival is deeply entwined with the survival of our natural environment.
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