Alongside the symposium, the Wald & Wonne Festival took place in ALEA PARK in May 2025. The festival aimed to communicate the connection between forest and health to the broader public and raise awareness of the health-promoting effects of the forest as a natural remedy. Guests attended workshops on mental health, such as yoga, qigong, and breathwork training, and gathered their first experiences in the Bad Orb Forest, participating in guided forest bathing, breathing meditations, qigong sessions, and mindful birdwatching walks.
On the festival stage in the park, TV presenter Judith Rakers hosted a diverse program of activities. During the Science Slam, scientists presented their latest research findings in a short and accessible way. For example, Dr. Tim Hollstein from University Hospital Kiel explained the “cake paradox” and shared the latest insights on metabolism. In her keynote “Forest Effects – Why Our Souls Need Spaces for Retreat,” Inga Scheunemann, Head of HR at STRAUSS, spoke about mental health for the New Work generation. Another highlight was the panel discussion “MIND GAME: Success is a State of Mind” featuring former team psychologist of the German national football team Prof. Dr. Hans-Dieter Herrmann, Head of Medical Departments at ALEA partner Eintracht Frankfurt Christian Haser, and bobsled Olympic and world champion Laura Nolte.
On the festival stage in the park, TV presenter Judith Rakers hosted a diverse program of activities. During the Science Slam, scientists presented their latest research findings in a short and accessible way. For example, Dr. Tim Hollstein from University Hospital Kiel explained the “cake paradox” and shared the latest insights on metabolism. In her keynote “Forest Effects – Why Our Souls Need Spaces for Retreat,” Inga Scheunemann, Head of HR at STRAUSS, spoke about mental health for the New Work generation. Another highlight was the panel discussion “MIND GAME: Success is a State of Mind” featuring former team psychologist of the German national football team Prof. Dr. Hans-Dieter Herrmann, Head of Medical Departments at ALEA partner Eintracht Frankfurt Christian Haser, and bobsled Olympic and world champion Laura Nolte.
