I have a friend who is an avid hiker. Admittedly, I am envious when I see his posts about his latest sojourn on this trail or that. He’s in his 70s and has been discovering the delights of forest adventures for decades. He’s part of a local hiking group, and with backpacks secured and walking sticks at their sides, they routinely set out. Whenever a group photo is posted, their faces tell the story: smiling, joyous, often tired, but always serene.
The forests have once again bestowed their enchanted magic.
German forester and author Peter Wohlleben, along with author, nature enthusiast, and primary English language translator Jane Billinghurst have teamed up to offer readers new ways to appreciate the natural world.
First, I wouldn’t necessarily categorize this book as promoting “Shinrin-yoku,” a Japanese term for “forest bathing” coined in 1982 by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries to define making contact with the forest in a spiritual way. The agency did studies showing that exposure to forests has positive health benefits. No actual bathing is required—simply immersing yourself in the woods will make you feel better than navigating purely a city life.
Learning to Be a Forest Detective
Beyond being able to identify whether a tree is coniferous or deciduous, you’ll learn what lies behind the bark or beneath the path underfoot. All of these are signs of the forest’s history.
Do you know that trees sleep? Do you know how expansive their root systems are? What’s that bitter almond smell that some trees ooze?
The design of their branches, their ability to store moisture, and their ever upward reaching toward the sun are all explained and explored.
The forest has its own social network and hidden connections. It’s fascinating to learn about the interrelatedness of trees, the creatures that find comfort in their branches and bark, the composition of the soils that support their growth, and how better to decode nature’s signs.
While forests contain a plethora of wildlife—creatures that you can easily see and hear—the authors have readers taking a deep dive into all the layers that make up the forest floor, from lichens to all the little insects hiding under the leaves.
Clearly keen on preserving forests and educating future generations about the role forests play in the environment, the authors suggest several ways to enhance the forest experience for children, from making bark rubbings to creating musical instruments from branches.
A Walk on the Wild Side
What if you find yourself stranded in the woods? How would you survive?
Wohlleben has conducted survival training workshops with participants armed with only a sleeping bag, a knife, and a cup. Forest food is not always friendly fare. You’ve got to know your mushrooms or what can happen with a belly full of blackberries. Is the water in a stream safe to drink? Which branches will make the best bed?
The book is written in a well-paced narrative and conversational style. There are times when you feel that you are walking with the authors through the woods, crossing streams, and perching on a rock with an incredible view. Or you may be down on the ground, peering under a rock, or running your hand over a bed of green and cool moss.
One chapter that particularly resonated with me was experiencing the forest at night. There is a fear factor as your eyes slowly adjust to the darkness and you hear sounds that are not immediately recognizable. Certain animals and plants glow in the dark. Eyes may peer out from a cavity in a tree.
And as the authors describe, there are the owls. “No catalog of night animals would be complete without mentioning those silent nighttime hunters, the owls. I never cease to be fascinated by the flight of owls. Their feathers are slightly fringed on the edges, which allows them to fly in absolute silence as they search for scuttling mice or sleeping birds. Owls appear and disappear like nocturnal ghosts.”
“Forest Walking” is not a reference book. No need to take copious notes. It’s more of an appetizer and an invitation to explore and appreciate all that the natural world has to offer. The authors hope that you’ll be enticed to go outside and take a walk in the woods.
I suspect that many of you will after this enchanting and enlightening read.
