Niwa-Yoku - Garden Bathing

The Moon Viewing Platform

The other day I was walking along the side of a stream when I came upon a huge clump of self-seeded Buddleia.  The aroma was overwhelming.  As I couldn’t see a single butterfly on what is known as the ‘butterfly bush’ I decided to stop and wait for them to arrive.  After a minute or so of just standing and observing I began to take in what was in front of me.  First, I noticed that whilst there were no butterflies, the flowers of the Buddleia were covered in bees.  There were several large bumble bees and some small honey bees collecting nectar.  Then, looking down at the stream I saw a dragonfly skimming over the water, and looking more closely an almost translucent fish, about six inches long, but scarcely visible. The more I stood and stared the more the scene came to life.  There wasn’t just one fish, but several.  The gentle buzzing of the bees was enlivened by bird song.  Then the butterflies arrived; first some cabbage whites, and then a pair of tortoise-shells.

This led me to think of the value of staying still and observing.  In Japan there’s  the concept of Shinrin-Yoku, which translates as Forest Bathing.  It’s not an ancient idea, but was dreamed up by Tomohide Akiyama, a director of  the Japanese Forest Agency in 1982, who after carrying out some research pointed out how time spent in a forest, just contemplating, was beneficial for one’s health.  Is this the only good idea a government official has ever had?  I would like to extend that concept to the garden- Niwa-Yoku, or garden bathing.  Without knowing it, I have been practicing Niwa-Yoku in my garden for years.  The environment is perfect.  We have identified 58 species of birds in the garden, so that we can be sure of hearing bird song all the year round.   There is always an abundance of insect life, not least from the tens of thousands of bees in our hives.

Niwa-Yoku can be practised anywhere in the garden, but it turns out that, by happenstance, we have already created the ideal spot.  In the part which we call the Japanese garden, next to the Tea House, there is a platform jutting over the pool which has always been called the ‘Moon Viewing Platform’.  It comes with resident ducks and an ever-changing vista.  At night the moon is accompanied by the hooting of the owls.

The Vista from the Moon Viewing Platform