Rehovot opens first urban forest-therapy trail

Rehovot Municipality has inaugurated the city’s first urban forest-therapy trail, in a ceremony attended by Mayor Matan Dil, Deputy Mayor Zohar Blum, council member Orit Sargai, and Galya Ben Hayim, CEO of Forest Therapy Israel.

Forest therapy, developed in Japan, is based on mindful time spent in nature to improve physical and mental health. The municipality said research worldwide links it to reduced stress and anxiety, improved mood, and a stronger sense of overall well-being.

The new trail is intended for a wide range of residents, including reserve soldiers, senior citizens, people recovering from illness, and families coping with mental health challenges. Activities planned for the site include guided walks, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practice.

City officials said Rehovot is among the first cities in Israel to implement a forest-therapy trail as part of an urban approach that treats nature as an important tool for public health and community resilience. Details on the first workshops and activities are expected to be announced soon.