Finding Nature

When close to someone it is natural to worry when they are unwell. So, it makes sense that people who are closer to nature are worried about biodiversity loss and climate change. Given one benefit of increasing nature connection is mental wellbeing, this could appear to be a conundrum. If we love, we care. If we care, we worry. And worry can lead to distress. It is important to understand these relationships.

There’s growing interest in both climate anxiety and nature connection, but they also need to be considered together. A few studies have started to do this and untangle the relationships. Thomson and Roach (2023) did indeed find a relationship between nature connection and climate worry. And between climate worry and psychological distress. They also found that nature connection was linked to both individual and collective climate action.

Similarly, Curll et al (2022) found a link between nature connection and climate anxiety, which was associated with psychological distress. Wullenkord et al (2024) have also found nature connection to be a risk factor in climate anxiety. This suggests a troubling paradox, to address climate change there is a need for action, which can be promoted through nature connection, but that could well increase climate anxiety – although nature connection also brings mental wellbeing benefits.

However, Thomson and Roach (2023) also found climate knowledge played a role in these relationships, and Whitmarsh et al. (2022) have studied this further. They found widespread climate worry, but far lower levels of climate anxiety, an important distinction. They found the strongest predictor of climate anxiety was climate information seeking behaviour. Environmental information seeking behaviour is related to risk and associated with climate anxiety. Reese et al. (2023) combined some of these aspects, finding that higher risk perception, but not nature connectedness, predicts climate anxiety. Climate anxiety revolves around notions of threat.

Curll et al also found that taking individual climate action was related to reduced psychological distress, although collective action had the opposite effect, perhaps via increasing information and risk perception depending on the tone of the collective action.

Taken together, the results suggest that seeking to improve nature connection may well be less problematic for increasing psychological distress than might first appear. This work also suggests the importance of giving people the opportunity and agency to take action, one of the pathways to nature connection. There is a need to focus on solutions and positive action, rather than fear and threat. Focussing on threat engages people, but at a cost. Further, the climate narrative can often appear as a life without, through less travel for example. The narrative of a new relationship with nature is about living with, such that people and the more than human world flourish together.

You find out more on creating a new relationship with nature in our nature connection handbook, connected organisations handbook, policy briefing, Silk Mill vision and my book Reconnection.

Thomson, E. E., & Roach, S. P. (2023). The relationships among nature connectedness, climate anxiety, climate action, climate knowledge, and mental health. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1241400.

Reese, G., Rueff, M., & Wullenkord, M. C. (2023). No risk, no fun… ctioning? Perceived climate risks, but not nature connectedness or self-efficacy predict climate anxiety. Frontiers in Climate, 5, 1158451.

Whitmarsh, L., Player, L., Jiongco, A., James, M., Williams, M., Marks, E., & Kennedy-Williams, P. (2022). Climate anxiety: What predicts it and how is it related to climate action?. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 83, 101866.

Wullenkord, M. C., Johansson, M., Loy, L. S., Menzel, C., & Reese, G. (2024). Go out or stress out? Exploring nature connectedness and cumulative stress as resilience and vulnerability factors in different manifestations of climate anxiety. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 102278.

Curll, S. L., Stanley, S. K., Brown, P. M., & O’Brien, L. V. (2022). Nature connectedness in the climate change context: Implications for climate action and mental health. Translational Issues in Psychological Science, 8(4), 448–460. https://doi.org/10.1037/tps0000329

Lutz, P. K., Passmore, H. A., Howell, A. J., Zelenski, J. M., Yang, Y., & Richardson, M. (2023). The continuum of eco-anxiety responses: A preliminary investigation of its nomological network. Collabra: Psychology, 9(1), 67838.

After a few years of hibernation, our Nature Connections conference is back 24 & 25th June 2024 for a 6^th instalment! Since 2015 the event has taken place at the University of Derby, however, this year we’re heading to a great venue by river in Derby city centre. The Museum of Making at the Silk Mill is the site of the world’s first factory, a starting point of an industrial relationship with nature based on use and control, so a great place to start to here the very latest on forging a new relationship with nature.

Our keynotes speakers are Marian Spain (CEO of Natural England), Fiona Holland and Caroline Harvey on evaluating the impact of nature-based interventions for children and young people and Miles Richardson, plus closing reflections from Ryan Lumber.

As ever Nature Connections brings together researchers and practitioners interested in nature connection to share and discuss the latest research, ideas, and applications in the field.

The talks and a range of posters on the 24^th June will focus on nature connection and the human-nature relationship, sharing the latest projects involved with engaging people with nature. Highlighting the contribution to research, practice, people and nature. Themes will include nature connection for children and young people, education, health and wellbeing.  Tuesday 25 June has optional morning workshops. Further info and booking here.

The Silk Mill

Also, Associate Professor Caroline Locke is preparing to curate a collection of work to run alongside Nature Connections. The exhibition will take place at Derby Cathedral close to the Silk Mill. and will include work by the artists: John Newling, Rachel Jacobs, Beth Kettle, Craig Fisher, Angela Bartram, Chris Barnes, Stephanie Rushton, Paula McCloskey, Ismail Khokon, Debra Swann, Fiona Carruthers as well as her own ‘Tree Charter Bell’ which is a church tower bell used as part of tree planting ceremonies. Entitled “Our Stories Are Wild”, the exhibition will bring together artworks which focus on the human-nature relationship. Many of the works reveal an emotional and spiritual connection with our environment and explore themes of care, hope and responsibility.

Our relationship with nature is failing. Staggering declines in biodiversity, together with climate change show the negative impact of human behaviour over generations. Globally, institutions are recognising the need to fix the human-nature relationship. Here in the UK, we’ve got further to go than most nations. The UK is one of the most nature depleted countries on Earth and a population with low levels of nature connection.

Our new policy briefing introduces the concept of nature connectedness as a catalyst for change, and how fostering a deeper relationship with nature that goes beyond simply spending time outdoors. It then offers ideas that can help foster nature connection at societal scale. You can access your own copy of the briefing here.

Nature Connectedness helps unite both human and nature’s wellbeing. Research shows that individuals with a stronger connection to nature are more likely to engage in pro-environmental behaviours and connecting with nature promotes greater well-being. Nature connection should be a pillar of a sustainable future.

Nature connectedness benefits both people and nature

This briefing proposes integrating nature connectedness into various policy areas, creating a virtuous cycle where increased connection leads to environmental protection, ultimately fostering stronger connections. The policy suggestions in the briefing centre around:

• Reframing Health and Wellbeing
• Building Nature Connected Communities
• Cultivating Nature Connection in Education
• Protecting and Restoring the Environment
• Enable Nature Connected Travel
• Celebrate the Human-Nature Relationship

Possible types of relationships with nature and their outcomes

The concept is simple, shifting from our existing exploitative relationship with nature, to a new relationship. By shifting our focus towards fostering nature connectedness, we can create a future where human and environmental well-being are intertwined. Implementing these policy recommendations across various sectors can initiate a positive and sustainable transformation in our relationship with the natural world. Download the briefing to learn more about the concept of nature connectedness and explore ways to integrate it into your daily life. Together, we can create a future where people and nature thrive in harmony.

A guest blog by Dr Carly Butler, Researcher in Nature Connectedness, University of Derby.

Everyday noticing and appreciation of the more-than-human world is vital for developing a sense of nature connectedness. Yet, a 2020 study by University of Derby and the National Trust found that in the United Kingdom, people often don’t pay attention to nature, with nearly two-thirds of people reporting that they rarely or never listen to bird song or watch butterflies. These findings reflect (and may partially explain) the low levels of nature connectedness in the UK. They are worrying as these simple ways of engaging with nature are so important in the growth of closer relationships with nature, which in turn are vital for the wellbeing of both people and planet. People with a stronger sense of nature connectedness are more likely to feel happy, satisfied with life, and to take action to help nature. A culture in which people don’t notice butterflies is not well-resourced to deal with the meta-crisis.  As discussed in a previous blog post on the ‘butterfly affect’, small acts of noticing can potentially have big impacts.

Past research from the Nature Connectedness Research Group has found that taking part in citizen-science activities, like counting pollinators or birds, leads to increased nature connectedness and wellbeing. The impact of taking part was boosted by experimental manipulations of people’s noticing and appreciation of nature – by noticing three good things in nature, or rating birds for feelings of joy they invoked. These studies demonstrated the value of citizen science activities extend beyond the contributions to conservation – they can benefit humans themselves and improve the human-nature relationship.

Our latest paper, just published in Biological Conservation, reports on a collaboration with Butterfly Conservation that looked at the impact of a real-world citizen science project. The annual Big Butterfly Count is one of the world’s largest nature-based citizen science projects, in which more than 60,000 people spend fifteen minutes on a sunny day to count and record how many butterfly species they see during that time. In 2022, people who signed up for the Big Butterfly Count were also invited to take part in our research. Those who took part completed a survey before and after the Big Butterfly Count period (N=382), and then again at follow-up a few weeks later (N=345), which explored whether the simple act of watching and counting butterflies had an effect on nature connectedness, wellbeing and people’s tendency to notice nature and butterflies.

We found that after taking part in the Big Butterfly Count, nature connectedness was increased, people were more likely to notice butterflies and other nature, and anxiety was decreased by nearly ten percent. At follow-up we found increased wellbeing and butterfly noticing. The impact of taking part was greater when people experienced stronger emotions during the count – the more joy, compassion, interest, and fascination they felt, the greater the increase in nature connectedness and noticing.

Participants were also invited to comment on their experience of taking part in the count. Many reported feelings of joy, wonder, and calm and shared the pleasure they received from watching the butterflies in a focused and sustained way. There were also many reports of feelings of sadness and concern, particularly when seeing few butterflies to count, and comparing their count to previous years. However, these feelings often motivated ongoing and renewed actions for nature – commitment to continue taking part in the count, and planting for pollinators.

The research shows that a real-world citizen science project designed primarily to gather scientific data and raise awareness of butterfly conservation can also improve people’s wellbeing and relationship with nature. Beyond that, it reminds us that counting butterflies is not just a matter of counting butterflies – it is an emotional engagement with the more-than-human world, an opportunity for close focused attention toward nature, and an invitation to tune into the beauty and wonder of these magnificent flying creatures. Such moments with nature renew our relationships with the wider living world, helping us feel closer to and more a part of nature. These reminders of our connections with, and appreciation for, the more-than-human have never been more necessary.

The time we spend helping nature by contributing to the monitoring of its health and vitality, is time that also helps our own health and vitality. Conservation and regenerative activities are perhaps as important for humans as they are for nature, with the potential to encourage a cycle of noticing and connection and care. The wellbeing and nature connection benefits of citizen science deserve to be more widely recognised and developed through integrated nature and health initiatives – bringing wildlife monitoring into green social prescribing for example, and championing the wellbeing benefits of counting wildlife. With Local Nature Recovery Strategies developing around the country, it’s important that communities are involved in supporting and monitoring that recovery. A system that values nature and people will support spaces where plants for pollinators can thrive, and where people can watch the pollinators so that they too can thrive, while helping to monitor the health of the more-than-human world.

Citizen science offers fantastic opportunities for people to contribute to scientific research, and to develop their knowledge and skills. Our research highlights the additional benefits of such projects – their invitations for communities to notice nature, to gift their attention to the more-than-human and to recognise, cherish, and deepen their emotional connection to nature. One butterfly at a time.

C.W. Butler, I. Hamlin, M. Richardson, M. Lowe, R. Fox (2024). Connection for conservation: The impact of counting butterflies on nature connectedness and wellbeing in citizen scientists,
Biological Conservation, 110497.

A lot of research compares green spaces to urban spaces and the benefits of green over urban are widely recognised. However, might some people be better adapted to urban spaces? Do city lovers need a different nature prescription to nature lovers? These types of questions are explored in a recent research paper published in Landscape and Urban Planning.

Nature lovers thrive in green spaces. They are happier being around trees and birds. Whereas the city lover with lower nature connectedness might not get the same buzz from being in and around nature. Indeed, some might even feel stressed or anxious about spending time outdoors. An individual’s level of nature connectedness plays a role in the benefits gained from being in nature.

So, we can’t assume everyone benefits equally from green spaces. Like all design, when it comes to urban green spaces there’s a need to consider individual preferences and nature connectedness levels.

This new research involved a lab experiment where 68 people watched 10-minute videos of urban space and high or low biodiversity green spaces after completing demanding tasks. Measures of emotional response and eudemonic wellbeing were taken during the study. The findings are interesting, but this is a small single study based on watching short videos.

The study taps into something useful though, suggesting that green spaces act as an important ‘shelter’ for the highly nature connected, a place away from urban demands and helping restore emotional balance, the more biodiversity the better. The urban space had no benefit or made them feel a bit worse.

Whereas the low nature connection people seemed better adapted to the urban environment, which didn’t have a negative impact. They sensed less urgency to escape the urban environment, but they benefit more from the green space.

The more nature connected people were also more sensitive to the level of biodiversity and the difference between natural spaces and urban spaces. This accords with other research that shows that more nature connectedness people tend to look at nature more than artificial environments.

It should also be noted that study confirmed previous findings, generally nature is beneficial for all. Green space being more beneficial to wellbeing through calming emotions, whereas urban space tends to induce a prolonged state of arousal – but these effects vary by level of nature connection.

Gong, C., Yang, R., & Li, S. (2024). The role of urban green space in promoting health and well-being is related to nature connectedness and biodiversity: Evidence from a two-factor mixed-design experiment. Landscape and Urban Planning, 245, 105020.