Forest bathing at Wakehurst

Wakehurst is the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew's country garden near Ardingly, about 490 acres of the High Weald. Kew has arranged much of it as a walk through the temperate woodlands of the world, and it holds the national collections of birches and southern beeches. The Great Storm of 1987 brought down around 20,000 trees here, and the replanting has shaped much of what you see now. The Millennium Seed Bank is on site.

Near the mansion and walled gardens it can be busy, so head down into the valleys. Bethlehem Wood and the Loder Valley Nature Reserve of woodland, meadow and wetland are the quieter parts. Spring brings bluebells and flowering trees; autumn colour is excellent. Allow at least half a day. Guided forest bathing sessions have been held here.