Jacqueline Nichol’s Joy Trails brings visitors into the wonder of the natural world

A local woman has created a unique offering she hopes will be welcomed by tourists and let them engage deeply with the region’s natural beauty.

Cowaramup woman Jacqueline Nichol started her business Joy Trails back in 2020 after years working as an environmental scientist.

“I read an article a few years before that about Shinrin Yoku, which translates roughly to ‘taking in the forest through your senses’, hence forest ‘bathing’ or being immersed in nature,” she told the Times.

“I fell in love with the idea because I felt like it was something I’d been doing myself during my career and knew it had a lot of physical, mental and physiological benefits that I felt I was regularly receiving.

“I wanted to learn it because I really want to help people reconnect back to nature — not just for their own wellbeing, but also because the more people interact with nature the more they personally will want to take care of it,” she said.

“So it’s a win for people and for the environment.”

Starting her venture during the pandemic had its challenges, but Ms Nichol’s offering had grown to become part of the region’s diverse tourism offering.

She said participants often reported feeling refreshed, “like I’ve had a two-week holiday” after a simple three-hour session.

“People adore it. They relax,” she said.

“They feel refreshed and calm, happy and creative.

“Weekend retreats see people literally changing how they manage their lives. It can be a very personal eye-opening experience and often transformative.”

Some customers took fresh insight into their own lives from the sessions and Ms Nichol said some had even decided on major changes including their careers after time in local woodlands.

Industry research as well as her own studies put the benefits of forest bathing down to changes within the sympathetic nervous system, while simple exposure to the natural elements had further effects on human wellbeing.

To find out more, visit www.joytrails.com.au.