Visits to Epping Forest to improve mental health

14 May 2019, 08:35 | Updated: 14 May 2019, 08:39

With experts suggesting we should visit forests regularly to improve our mental health - Heart's been seeing if visitors to Epping Forest think it's improving their wellbeing.

See what they have to say in the video above.

For two years, European health and wellbeing experts, Forest Europe, have been reviewing evidence on the benefits of spending time in forests.

The experts say that just 2 or 3 short visits a week can dramatically improve mental health.

There is strong scientific evidence that visiting a forest can improve your mood, your attention span, and even enhance psychological stress recovery.

Walking among trees can reduce levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, while improving mood and lowering anxiety. It also boosts the immune system from breathing in phytoncides, which trees emit to protect themselves from germs and insects.