A wellness renaissance is unfolding across the UK, driven by the rising popularity of outdoor swimming and nature-based practices like forest bathing.
Outdoor Swimming Takes the Plunge
The Outdoor Swimming Society (OSS), founded in 2006, counts over 200,000 members worldwide across 66 countries. Sport England data show 490,660 UK open-water swimmers participated in the last 28 days of 2017–18—a jump from 266,500 the prior year. In 2021, RLSS UK further reported around 408,000 regular open‑water swimmers. Swim England reveals that 6.81 million UK adults swim outdoors (including both open water and outdoor pools), with 2.45 million favouring open water only.
A 2022 survey of 722 outdoor swimmers by the University of Portsmouth found strong perceived health benefits: respondents reported 3.6× greater odds of general health improvements, 44× better mental health, and over 5× relief for musculoskeletal issues.
Forest Bathing & Nature Therapy
While robust UK-specific data is limited, international research indicates that spending just two hours per week in natural settings can significantly improve mental health and reduce stress. This supports the UK trend of guided forest walks, mindfulness hikes, and corporate wellness retreats focused on disconnecting and recharging.
What This Means for Your Audience
- Feature guides to top UK wild-swimming spots like Hampstead Heath, the Lake District, and Scottish lochs.
- Suggest seasonal forest-therapy routes in Epping Forest, the Highlands, or local nature reserves.
- Include how-to advice on safety (e.g., lifeguard-certified cold-water training, awareness of pollution levels), gear (wetsuits, dryrobes), and group swim safety via the OSS and Swim England resources.
With clean-water concerns rising—water-sports groups urge action after UK sewage discharges topped 399,864 last year—the demand for safe, healthy access is also a growing public issue.
Sources: Outdoor Swimming Society; Sport England; RLSS UK; Swim England; University of Portsmouth; The Guardian; Outdoorswimmer.com
