“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.”
– John Muir
Our Mission
LongLeaf was established in 2024 to support people’s wellbeing through nature connection. Our practice centres on mindfulness-in-nature and Forest Bathing, also known as shinrin yoku in Japan, where it originated. Forest Bathing involves bathing in the oxygen- and phytoncide-rich forest atmosphere, through gentle walks, sensory exercises (using touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste), and mindful breathing practices. While it is relatively new to the UK and USA, it has been successfully practiced in Japan, South Korea, Finland and other countries around the world to treat a variety of mental and physical health conditions.
Our team
Dr Eve Hepburn is the Founder and Chief Executive of LongLeaf. She is a certified Forest Bathing Guide, having completed her studies with The Forest Bathing Institute in the UK, and is mental health- and outdoor first aid-trained. Eve was formerly an associate professor of politics at the University of Edinburgh, depute director of the Academy of Government, and founder of Fearlessly CIC, a social enterprise supporting young people’s mental health. She is also the managing director of PolicyScribe, a research consultancy focussed on human rights and equalities. Eve has published 11 books and over 60 peer-reviewed scientific papers and has won dozens of awards and grants from national and international bodies. She has been the keynote speaker at over 100 events. She is passionate about bringing the benefits of forest bathing and nature connection to more people.
“Eve has a special gift, a sense of awareness about Mother Nature and her invisible workings. She’s on a mission to share this gift with us, a gift that we all desperately need to incorporate back into our lives.”
Shaz – forest bathing retreat participant
Experience the wonders of nature with LongLeaf
Want to know more about our LongLeaf wellbeing-in-nature experiences?
We’d be thrilled to hear from you. Let’s have a conversation.