WOODLAND IN PRACTICAL SKILLS THERAPEUTIC EDUCATION

Modern urban life provides less opportunities to contact with nature, which is a potential cause of developmental deviances in children. We investigated the potential therapeutic effect of woodlands, within the context of Practical Skills Therapeutic Education at the Ruskin Mill College, UK . Data on physical and emotional perceptions were collected through a questionnaire: sight was the physical sense with higher impact ( P  < 0.05); contemplation, away from pressure, relaxation, peace, quietness and freedom rated higher in emotional senses ( P  < 0.05). The place conveying the highest sense of comfort was the woodlands ( P  < 0.05). The Biophilia Theory , and the Attention Restorative Theory , that explain the recovery from Directed Attention Fatigue through exposure to natural environments, frame these results. A considerable amount of students attending the College is diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder being argued that the woodlands are a potential restorative place.