The Open Studio’s North Fife is a natural Scottish paradise where craftsman Rory McPhee hosts breathing workshops and allow attendees to connect with nature and improve their health.

Having grown up in West London Rory McPhee, 67, owns a successful seaweed company but had spent his adult life inside vans or as a shipping lawyer in warehouses looking at the natural world outside. However, he switched this lifestyle when he saw cheap land go up for sale up in North Scotland.

Being a Scottish craftsman, Rory always felt comfortable with a tool in his hand. He has spent the past few years making boats and sculptures out of natural materials that he finds on his land. As if that wasn’t busy enough, he owns a successful seaweed company and was the first man in the country to commercially sell UK seaweed.

Four years ago, when buying the land, Rory realised he wanted to use these skills and share the use of his recently purchased forest. He had always had an appreciation for the outdoors since a young age.

Rory said: “When I was being brought up by my parents, we were aways outside, I mean even had picnics in the snow. So naturally everything that I do, I try to do it all outside.

“Even if I lose money, I would rather do it outside in nature with natural materials.”

When he escaped the hustle of London and spent weekends at his Scottish land, he slowly began turning it into an accessible ‘Curative Forest’. Here he welcomes city dwellers for therapy or weekends away from the city.

Due to it being a private forest he ensures that visitors are not interrupted by unexpected events like dogs off leads, bikers, or wild campers. This aims to reduce anxious visitors.

He said: “It’s a valuable place for people with mental health issues or end-of-life care”.

Since opening the forest, he has built a natural sauna, as well as crafting shelters, tables, and chairs to host his visitors.

Rory continued: “This is a very basic earth structure showcasing likely shelters after the last ice age. Materials all sourced from the land, cost £15 not including wood burner.

“Using it was one of the most incredible experiences on my live – you feel part of the earth.”

The natural structure (made from earth and wood) is warmed by lighting a fire for three hours and then when it burns out and the stones are hot you put water on and create a sauna.

During his therapy sessions, Rory works on breathing in the clean air of the forest and sea, this is often a stark contrast to the pollution filled air from cities like London, Birmingham, or Manchester.

Most of his therapy comes from being ‘present’ and connecting the ‘soul’ to the natural world.

Rory said: “It’s as simple as, what raises your spirit?

“It is getting away from city life and can often do that and it is beautiful, the people often enjoy the simplicity of life.”

Having worked with mental health organisations such as ‘Heal Scotland’ and becoming a part of social prescription therapies with the NHS. Rory hopes that more people will use his forest as a more holistic form of therapy which targets the mind, body, and soul.

The success of the curative forest shows the value that escaping the normality of everyday city life can have, this doesn’t have to be done in the Scottish coastline but can be done anywhere with nature.

Rory said: “Puma means breathe or soul or spirit. That’s what its all about, getting outdoors and breathing properly.

“So many of us sit down and don’t breathe properly, especially those in the city.”