Finding Nature

Environmental institutions are realising that the human-nature relationship is a tangible target for a sustainable future, but societal change of that relationship is a challenge involving modifications to both systems and human behaviours. In our latest paper, State of science: refitting the human to nature, we argue that Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) with its focus on relationships, interfaces and systems is well placed to contribute. Although it has an HFE focus I think it provides perspectives that are of wider interest. For example, how a range of disciplines can contribute to a sustainable future and the need to ‘de-centre people’. The paper is available open access. This blog provides a brief summary of one key area in the paper, the need to move beyond technological solutions and take a systems perspective.

There is growing global recognition that the biodiversity and climate crises are a product of the failing human-nature relationship and that, for a sustainable future, a new relationship with nature is needed. However, in general, humans do not live in harmony with nature, we don’t know what a sustainable future looks like. There is an urgent need for new solutions.

Humans are a ‘technological ape’; a species long dependent on and ever more defined by its technology. This helps explain the focus on technological solutions to treat the symptoms of the failing relationship to deliver sustainability and the difficulty of even starting to consider the worldviews and mindsets that define the human-nature relationship. The fixation on visible issues is captured by a simple representation of systems thinking, the ‘Iceberg Model’. The visible events of biodiversity loss and climate warming are symptoms of unseen factors below the surface at the base of the iceberg such as our mindsets and worldviews that encompass our values, beliefs and assumptions.

The foundation of Western thought is taught and continually reinforced through dominant metaphors, which we reinforce further through using technological solutions in our attempts to deliver sustainability and rebalance the complex systems of nature. This consists of two reinforcing patterns. First, when we distance ourselves from nature through technology and our built environment, we reduce how we value nature. Second, as technological apes we have come to rely on introducing more technologies as the ‘solution’ to the problems we have created. Our solutions are constrained by our worldview. In essence we exacerbate our problems rather than releasing ourselves from an unsustainable cycle.

Proposals to tackle base of the iceberg and achieve a paradigm shift in the human-nature relationship are being made. For example, through taking a systems perspective and combining the ‘pathways to nature connectedness’ with a leverage points perspective we showed how the pathways to nature connectedness could be applied at various leverage points within systems.

This provides a perspective where the pathways can inform cultural and urban design. Interventions to improve the human–nature relationship can target the powerful pathways of sensory, meaningful and emotional engagement with nature. Recommendations across policy areas such as education, health, housing, arts, health and transport, can target leverage points around system goals, design, feedback and parameters to foster closer human–nature relationships across society. The areas for action in the evidence report for the United Nations General Assembly’s Stockholm + 50 meeting draw upon this work as one route towards redefining and strengthening human-nature connectedness in our social norms.

This work shows that the design of infrastructure, places, spaces, organisations, transport, housing and healthcare can be used to build human-nature connections. Different areas with expertise to create visons of sustainable communities, designed to create a new relationship with nature. To achieve this HFE and other areas need to take an unlikely step, to recognise that design should not always be human-centred. That cognitive flip of de-centring humans to being part of nature, both as a person and as a professional, would facilitate a meaningful contribution to a wider new relationship with nature for a sustainable future. This alternative ‘life-centred design’ unites both human and nature’s wellbeing. It is time to move on from solely fitting the world to the human, to refitting the human to nature.

 

Miles Richardson & Andrew Thatcher (2023) State of science: refitting the human to nature, Ergonomics, DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2023.2236340

As part of the ‘Connected Treescapes‘ project we’ve been exploring how people value trees to inform the design of future treescapes. Part of that work was a survey of 1800+ people. They’ll be more involved analysis published in the future, but there are some interesting results in the raw responses, for example, people have a closer relationship with trees than their neighbours!

Let’s take a closer look.

Despite the UK being one of the most deforested nations on the planet around 80% of people in our survey area thought they had plenty of trees within a five-minute walk of their home, and that those trees were very varied in age and species of tree. 25% even reporting that there are plenty of woodlands within 5 minutes of their home. We found similar views on the presence of other aspects of nature, such as wildflowers. These results perhaps reflect a ‘shifting baseline’ where each generation sees the current level of woodland as the norm.

When asking about engagement with trees, over 80% reported that they take notice of trees wherever they are, with only 7% disagreeing. 75% of people felt that large and noticeable trees were important to them, once again with only 7% disagreeing. Such that 50% of people reported having a ‘favourite tree’ they notice frequently. Trees are meaningful to people.

Although reporting the noticing of trees, and having favourite trees, when asked if they had a close relationship with trees, only 16% felt this was very close, although this is notably higher than the 7% who feel that they had a very close relationship with their neighbours. Perhaps people struggle to imagine a close and interconnected relationship with trees, but the difference to neighbours is interesting. Broadening these connections out, over 60% felt their relationship with nature more generally was an important part of their identity, with a similar proportion feeling very interconnected to all living things on Earth.

Although asking about people’s relationship with trees might seem unusual, it is those that feel a close relationship with the natural world who take most positive action towards it – and it tends to contribute to greater wellbeing also. Having a close emotional bond, such as having a favourite tree, is important, but it also important to feel closely connected to trees and the wider natural world. This need for a close bond with nature being needed to drive positive pro-nature behaviours is reflected in another aspect of the survey. Although three-quarters agreed that they always think about how their actions affect the environment, far fewer take action, from half planting pollinator friendly plants to just over a third providing homes for nature in their gardens. Only 8% reported taking action on local nature conservation issues, but then as we’ve seen most people thought there was plenty of trees and nature nearby.

We also asked about the benefits of trees. Over 90% realise and agree that trees bring better air quality (94%) and that they support wildlife (95%). With around 86% knowing that trees help prevent erosions/ flooding. 86% of respondents felt that trees are an important part of our history and heritage, and childhood (93%), with 73% recalling that they had a lot of contact with trees during their childhood.

Turning to threats to trees, 74% of respondents felt that urban development presented the greatest threat to trees, higher than climate change (65%) and diseases and pests (55%). However, although development can be a threat to some trees, in the long-term climate change is the bigger threat, through changes in the weather (e.g. droughts) and by creating more favourable conditions for many pests and diseases.

So, people notice trees, are aware of their benefits and they have a meaningful relationship with them – more so than with their neighbours. In some ways everything is a little too rosy as people tend to think there are plenty of trees and, therefore, unlikely to do a great deal to help restore woodland cover.

 

The Nature Connectedness Research Group is 10 years old! I set it up in May 2013. It seemed intuitive to me that the human relationship with nature mattered and was at the heart of environmental crises. Looking back to 2013 I founded it to ‘understand people’s connection to the natural environment and design and evaluate local interventions in order to improve connectedness; bringing about the associated benefits in well-being and conservation behaviour’ – it’s gone well! The group has produced a large amount of research, applied it widely and been recognised for its work – winning two Green Gown Research with Impact awards in 2021 and being named by Universities UK as one of the UK’s 100 best breakthroughs for its impact.

With increased recognition of the human-nature relationship being a root cause of the environmental crises, the Nature Connectedness Research Group is doing what it can to lead efforts to create a new relationship with nature, through research to understand, application through frameworks and interventions and sharing guidance.

Our Research

Clearly, a research group starts with research. The Nature Connectedness Research Group was perhaps the first to focus squarely in this area. In 2013 only a few research papers used the term ‘nature connectedness’ in their title with 77 using the term at all. By 2022 that 77 had grown to 1410.

The research projects have ranged from small student projects, those done on a shoestring (or zero!) budget to two large scale £1+ million consortium programmes – Improving Wellbeing through Urban Nature (2016 to 2019) and Connected Treescapes (2021 to present).

The projects have produced a lot of research findings. I’m unsure how many now, but in that time getting on for 100 journal papers involving over 20 University of Derby staff have been published – there’s a list of some below. They can be split into a few areas of focus.

Environmental Factors: The group has examined the influence of environmental factors on nature connectedness. From investigating the impact of avian biodiversity in urban green spaces on human emotions to exploring the association between visible garden biodiversity and nature connectedness, the group has highlighted the significance of nature’s diversity in shaping human well-being.

Mental Well-being and Health: Researchers have explored the links between nature connectedness and various aspects of well-being, including eudaimonic well-being, mood, and mental health. Investigations into the effects of forest-bathing, mindfulness-based interventions, nature writing tasks, and nature-based positive psychological interventions have demonstrated the potential of nature connection approaches to enhance mental well-being and promote emotion regulation. We have explored green prescriptions and nature connectedness approaches for populations including those living with addiction, psychopathy, paranoia, disordered eating, and anxiety.

Psychological Dimensions: Such as the relationship between nature connectedness, nonattachment, and engagement with nature’s beauty has revealed how individuals can derive meaning and fulfilment from their connection to the natural world. The group has investigated the connection between nature connectedness and dark personality traits, unravelling the complex interplay between individual traits and environmental attitudes.

Measurement: Another area of focus has been developing measures (e.g. the NCI and ProCoBs) so that researchers can better understand the factors that drive individuals to engage in sustainable practices. Furthermore, the group has examined the influence of nature connectedness on parental self-efficacy, highlighting the role of caregivers in fostering nature connection in their children. Our work has suggested that nature connectedness is a key metric for sustainable future.

Interventions and Engagement: Understanding how to effectively connect people with nature has been a core focus of the group’s research. Through evaluating interventions such as green outdoor educational programs and outdoor, arts-based activities, the researchers have identified strategies to foster nature connectedness. Additionally, the exploration of the impact of the “30 days wild” campaign has shed light on the potential of large-scale initiatives to enhance nature connectedness and well-being.

Details of much of this work can be found by searching this site.

Our Impact

As a former engineer with a focus on human factors (the fit between people and the things they do) solutions are important to me. And the research above has been applied wherever possible. It falls into three themes.

Improving the human-nature relationship through via the pathways to nature connectedness.

Our pathways to nature connectedness design framework has been widely adopted by organisations in the UK and around the world to help connect people with nature. We have worked with a range of partners, including Natural England, National Trust, and the Wildlife Trusts and other environmental NGOs and organisations of all shapes and sizes across public, charitable, and private sectors. Our research and knowledge exchange work is broad in scope, contributing to the visitor experience and engagement at nature reserves, activities within green social prescribing and mental wellness programmes, policy briefings, design of buildings and landscapes, artworks, leadership development, and educational programmes. Case studies on the ‘Pathways to Nature Connectedness’ from the organisations above and others such as Plymouth City Council can be found in our Nature Connection Handbook.

The pathways also inform the Government’s Green Influencers scheme and the Green Recovery Challenge Fund guidance thereby informing initiatives such as Generation Green where organisations such as the YHA, Scouts, National Parks connect young people with nature. In 2015, the Wildlife Trusts used the pathways to inform the design of their innovative ‘30 Days Wild’ national programme with over one million people taking part in the first 5 years. In 2018, the National Trust adopted the pathways as a framework they could apply to the design of visitor experience activities and programmes.  One part of this work was a refresh of the national campaign “50 things to do before you’re 11¾” which was launched nationally in Easter 2019. The pathways have also informed physical spaces, for example the Butterfly House at Durrell Zoo and Silence at Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

The utility of the pathways framework for application across contexts to improve human-nature relations – from design of local programmes to policy and urban places has been included in policy briefings and evidence reviews such as Stockholm+50, a UN science evidence review. For more transformative change, we are developing the use of the pathways to inform urban design and to inform policy and culture through the use of system leverage points for transformational change.

Nature connection for mental health and wellbeing

Our nature connection focussed interventions have led to clinically significant improvements in mental health, with the research informing policy briefings, green social prescription schemes and the Mental Health Foundation’s 2021 Mental Health Awareness Week – the world’s largest mental health week campaign. Our ‘three good things in nature’ approach has part of a green prescription pilot run by RSPB Scotland. Our research also informs the work of Mind, again see our Nature Connection Handbook.

Nature connection and pro-nature behaviour measures.

We were part of the team that developed the Nature Connection Index (NCI) a measure designed to be suitable for both children and adults in populations surveys. The NCI helped us to be among the first to identify the ‘teenage dip’ in nature connection.

We have also created the first scale to measure pro-nature conservation behaviours, the Pro-Nature Conservation Behaviour Scale – or ProCoBS for short. ProCoBS is a psychometrically validated scale measuring active behaviours that specifically support the conservation of biodiversity. ProCoBS has enabled us to do work that showed that being connected to nature plays a vital role in pro-nature conservation behaviours.

Both measures have been included in Natural England’s People & Nature Survey, enabling the impact of nature connection on wellbeing and pro-nature behaviours to be explored at population scale.

Biodiversity Stripes

More recently I’ve developed the biodiversity stripes. They were swiftly adopted by the Nature Positive campaign led by Nature4Climate. A global effort to raise the profile of action to protect, manage and restore natural ecosystems for the benefit of the world’s peoples, the climate and biodiversity. They appeared at the COP27 Nature Zone and alongside the climate warming stripes, the biodiversity stripes decorated a baton taken to COP15 to unite the climate and nature agenda. The stripes have featured in the French Parliament and national TV.

Overall, over 20 of our research papers have been referenced 70 or so times in 46 documents from 28 policy bodies in 12 countries, including the IPCC, WHO, EU OECD, and Governments of New Zealand, Finland and the UK.

Where Next

Since forming, the Nature Connectedness Research Group has done a great deal to show nature connection can unite both human and nature’s wellbeing, but we are always looking forwards to more research, more application and sharing – with aim to make an even bigger difference to the human-nature relationship for a more sustainable future. These steps are much more challenging, but there is momentum.

A sustainable future requires a transformational change in our relationship with nature. Large-scale social and cultural shifts are needed to meet the challenges we face in addressing the climate and wildlife emergencies. Nature connectedness captures that relationship and the principles can be applied at a wider scale across the public realm to change how people relate to the rest of the natural world. With the focus of many sustainability initiatives being on reduction and restriction, nature connection offers a positive vision of a vibrant and nature-rich world that helps people feel good and live meaningful lives.

With others, the NCRG can hopefully find a way to shape the future of our institutions, spaces, and processes: putting nature connection into education’s curricula, teaching spaces or practices; designing landscapes, urban spaces, and buildings that provide for and prompt engagement with nature; creating technologies that connect rather than disconnect humans from nature; developing health and social care services that integrate nature connection; or inspiring families, friends and communities to come together to enjoy and nurture nature.

 

A selection of NCRG Publications 

There have been dozens of journal papers involving approx. 20 UoD staff across a range of disciplines, here’s a selection:

Barbett, L., Stupple, E. J. N., Sweet, M., Schofield, M. B., & Richardson, M. (2020). Measuring Actions for Nature—Development and Validation of a Pro-Nature Conservation Behaviour Scale. Sustainability, 12(12), Article 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12124885

Barnes, C., Harvey, C., Holland, F., & Wall, S. (2021). Development and testing of the Nature Connectedness Parental Self-Efficacy (NCPSE) scale. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 65, 127343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127343

Barrows, P. D., Richardson, M., Hamlin, I., & Van Gordon, W. (2022). Nature Connectedness, Nonattachment, and Engagement with Nature’s Beauty Predict Pro-Nature Conservation Behavior. Ecopsychology, 14(2), 83–91. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2021.0036

Cameron, R. W., Brindley, P., Mears, M., McEwan, K., Ferguson, F., Sheffield, D., … & Richardson, M. (2020). Where the wild things are! Do urban green spaces with greater avian biodiversity promote more positive emotions in humans?. Urban Ecosystems, 23(2), 301-317.

Choe, E. Y., Jorgensen, A., & Sheffield, D. (2020). Does a natural environment enhance the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)? Examining the mental health and wellbeing, and nature connectedness benefits. Landscape and Urban Planning, 202, 103886. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103886

Choe, E. Y., Jorgensen, A., & Sheffield, D. (2020). Simulated natural environments bolster the effectiveness of a mindfulness programme: A comparison with a relaxation-based intervention. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 67, 101382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2019.101382

Choe, E. Y., Jorgensen, A., & Sheffield, D. (2021). Examining the effectiveness of mindfulness practice in simulated and actual natural environments: Secondary data analysis. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 66, 127414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127414

Dobson, J., Birch, J., Brindley, P., Henneberry, J., McEwan, K., Mears, M., Richardson, M. & Jorgensen, A (2020). The magic of the mundane: The vulnerable web of connections between urban nature and wellbeing. Cities, 108, 102989.

Fido, D., Rees, A., Clarke, P., Petronzi, D., & Richardson, M. (2020). Examining the connection between nature connectedness and dark personality. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 101499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101499

Fido, D., & Richardson, M. (2019). Empathy mediates the relationship between nature connectedness and both callous and uncaring traits. Ecopsychology, 11(2), 130–137. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2018.0071

Garip, G., Rees, A. & Richardson, M. (2021). Development and implementation of evaluation resources for a green outdoor educational program. Journal of Environmental Education, 52(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2020.1845588

Hallam. J., Gallagher, L., & Harvey C. (2021) ‘I don’t wanna go. I’m staying. This is my home now.’ Analysis of an intervention for connecting young people to urban nature. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 65, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127341

Hallam J., Gallagher, L., & Harvey, C. (2019). ‘We’ve been exploring and adventuring.’ An investigation into young people’s engagement with a semi-wild, disused space. The Humanistic Psychologist. https://doi.org/10.1037/hum0000158

Hallam, J., Gallagher, L., & Owen K. (2021). The secret language of flowers: insights from an outdoor, arts-based intervention designed to connect primary school children to locally accessible nature. Environmental Education Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2021.1994926

Hamlin, I., & Richardson, M. (2022). Visible Garden Biodiversity Is Associated with Noticing Nature and Nature Connectedness. Ecopsychology, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2021.0064

Harvey, C., Sheffield, D., Richardson, M., & Wells, R. (2022). The Impact of a “Three Good Things in Nature” Writing Task on Nature Connectedness, Pro-nature Conservation Behavior, Life Satisfaction, and Mindfulness in Children. Ecopsychology. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2022.0014

Keenan, R., Lumber, R., Richardson, M., & Sheffield, D. (2021). Three good things in nature: A nature-based positive psychological intervention to improve mood and well-being for depression and anxiety. Journal of Public Mental Health, 20(4), 243–250.  https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-02-2021-0029

Kotera, Y., Richardson, M., & Sheffield, D. (2020). Effects of shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) and nature therapy on mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00363-4

Lumber, R., Richardson, M., & Sheffield, D. (2017). Beyond knowing nature: Contact, emotion, compassion, meaning, and beauty are pathways to nature connection. PLoS ONE, 12(5).  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177186

Martin, L., White, M. P., Hunt, A., Richardson, M., Pahl, S., & Burt, J. (2020). Nature contact, nature connectedness and associations with health, wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 68.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101389

McEwan, K., Richardson, M., Brindley, P., Sheffield, D., Tait, C., Johnson, S., Sutch, H., & Ferguson, F. J. (2020). Shmapped: Development of an app to record and promote the well-being benefits of noticing urban nature. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 10(3), 723–733.  https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibz027

McEwan, K., Richardson, M., Sheffield, D., Ferguson, F. J., & Brindley, P. (2021). Assessing the feasibility of public engagement in a smartphone app to improve well-being through nature connection (Evaluación de la factibilidad de la implicación ciudadana mediante una app de teléfonos inteligentes para mejorar el bienestar a través de la conexión con la naturaleza). Psyecology, 12(1), 45-75. https://doi.org/10.1080/21711976.2020.1851878

McEwan, K., Giles, D., Clarke, F.J., Kotera, Y., Evans, G., Terebenina, O., Minou, L., Teeling, C. & Wood, W. (2021). A pragmatic controlled trial of Forest Bathing compared with Compassionate Mind Training in a UK population: impacts on self-reported wellbeing and heart rate variability. Sustainability

Muneghina, O., Van Gordon, W., Barrows, P., & Richardson, M. (2021). A novel mindful nature connectedness intervention improves paranoia but not anxiety in a nonclinical population. Ecopsychology, 13(4), 248-256. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2020.0068

Passmore, H.-A., Martin, L., Richardson, M., White, M., Hunt, A., & Pahl, S. (2021). Parental/Guardians’ connection to nature better predicts children’s nature connectedness than visits or area-level characteristics. Ecopsychology, 13(2), 103–113.  https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2020.0033

Pritchard, A., Richardson, M., Sheffield, D., & McEwan, K. (2020). The relationship between nature connectedness and eudaimonic well-being: A meta-analysis. Journal of Happiness Studies: An Interdisciplinary Forum on Subjective Well-Being, 21(3), 1145–1167.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00118-6

Richardson, M. (2019). Beyond restoration: Considering emotion regulation in natural well-being. Ecopsychology, 11(2), 123–129.  https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2019.0012

Richardson, M., & Butler, C. W. (2022). Nature connectedness and biophilic design. Building Research & Information, 50(1–2), 36–42. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2021.2006594

Richardson, J. Dobson, D. J. Abson, R. Lumber, A. Hunt, R. Young & B. Moorhouse (2020) Applying the pathways to nature connectedness at a societal scale: a leverage points perspective, Ecosystems and People, 16(1), 387-401.

Richardson, M., & Hamlin, I. (2021). Nature engagement for human and nature’s well-being during the Corona pandemic. Journal of Public Mental Health, 20(2), 83–93.  https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-02-2021-0016

Richardson, M., Hamlin, I., Butler, C. W., Thomas, R., & Hunt, A. (2022). Actively noticing nature (not just time in nature) helps promote nature connectedness. Ecopsychology, 14(1), 8-16.

Richardson, M., Hamlin, I., Elliott, L. R., & White, M. P. (2022). Country-level factors in a failing relationship with nature: Nature connectedness as a key metric for a sustainable future. Ambio, 51(11), 2201–2213. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-022-01744-w

Richardson, M., Hunt, A., Hinds, J., Bragg, R., Fido, D., Petronzi, D., Barbett, L., Clitherow, T., & White, M. (2019). A Measure of Nature Connectedness for Children and Adults: Validation, Performance, and Insights. Sustainability, 11(12), Article 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123250

Richardson, M., Hussain, Z., & Griffiths, M. D. (2018). Problematic smartphone use, nature connectedness, and anxiety. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 7(1), 109–116.  https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.7.2018.10

Richardson, M., Maspero, M., Golightly, D., Sheffield, D., Staples, V., & Lumber, R. (2017). Nature: A new paradigm for well-being and ergonomics. Ergonomics, 60(2), 292–305.  https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2016.1157213

Richardson, M., & McEwan, K. (2018). 30 days wild and the relationships between engagement with nature’s beauty, nature connectedness and well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 9.  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01500

Richardson, M., McEwan, K., & Garip, G. (2018). 30 days wild: Who benefits most? Journal of Public Mental Health, 17(3), 95–104.  https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-02-2018-0018

Richardson, M., Passmore, H.-A., Barbett, L., Lumber, R., Thomas, R., & Hunt, A. (2020). The green care code: How nature connectedness and simple activities help explain pro-nature conservation behaviours. People and Nature, 2(3), 821–839. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10117

Richardson, M., Passmore, H.-A., Lumber, R., Thomas, R., & Hunt, A. (2021). Moments, not minutes: The nature-wellbeing relationship. International Journal of Wellbeing, 11(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v11i1.1267

Richardson, M., Richardson, E., Hallam, J., & Ferguson, F. J. (2020). Opening doors to nature: Bringing calm and raising aspirations of vulnerable young people through nature-based intervention. The Humanistic Psychologist, 48(3), 284–297.  https://doi.org/10.1037/hum0000148

Sheffield, D., Butler, C. W., & Richardson, M. (2022). Improving Nature Connectedness in Adults: A Meta-Analysis, Review and Agenda. Sustainability, 14(19), 12494. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912494

Van Gordon, W., Shonin, E., & Richardson, M. (2018). Mindfulness and nature. Mindfulness, 9(5), 1655–1658.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-018-0883-6

 

 

The Great Theft is a free chapter from Reconnection: Fixing our Broken Relationship with Nature which was published by Pelagic 25 April. Reconnection is split into three parts, the first covering the need for reconnection with nature, the second on the benefits of reconnection with nature and the third on creating a new relationship with nature.

The Great Theft is the second chapter and covers the Enlightenment, Scientific and Industrial Revolutions and a revolution in the way we think that separated humans from the rest of nature – ‘a single, underlying fault upon which the entire edifice of Western thought and science has been built – namely that which separates the “two worlds” of humanity and nature’, as described by Tim Ingold. A fracture so profound that it seeps into our everyday language bringing a powerful belief in the self and individuality we see throughout Western culture.

Before having a read of The Great Theft, it’s worth knowing what the first chapter, A Broken Relationship with Nature covers. It opens asking whether we are a nation of nature lovers? Demonstrating how the current state of nature suggests we are not and that our relationship with nature is broken. To understand how this happened the opening chapter considers ‘the letting go’, how the human bond with nature loosened as we progressed from hunter-gatherers to farmers.

 

Reconnection: Fixing our Broken Relationship with Nature has been published by Pelagic. The formal summary and selection of reviews are below, but first a few reflections.

Writing started in a notepad on the East Neuk of Fife coast between Elie and St. Monans on August 1st 2021. Mapping out the story, a book about our relationship with (the rest of) nature, why it’s failing, why it matters and how we might fix it. A week’s leave to make some solid progress later that month was filled with walks and cycle rides. Yet, after seven months of weekends and evenings in our shed overlooking a field (often powered by Funky Radio to keep me on the one while writing about the one) the first full draft was completed spring 2022. Then, from summer ’22, into winter the final text was completed. It’s left quite a hole and at times I find myself wondering what to do with myself!

Before the official blurb and the thoughts of others, some of my favourite parts of the book are, the working title, Nature Lovers? And writing the opening chapters, A Broken Relationship with Nature, The Great Theft, The Technological Ape and Hidden Connections with Nature. And the Preface, so far everyone seems to like the Preface!

And a few of my favourite lines:

“Whereas this tree of life has flourished to many billions of lives for humans and their livestock, it is withering for other species as we extend our use and control of nature. In the forest of life, the human tree casts much shade.”

“Nature is on the sidelines – quite literally at times, in the cracks beneath the billboards. Nature does not have a marketing budget. Nature has no new styles; this year’s robin is the same as the previous years.”

“I see trees as the ever-present foundations of a new relationship with nature, birds as our hope – a thread back to the dinosaurs, angels from an extinction. We should listen to their calls.”

And the analogies about visits to the fridge and taking a slice through a mystery cake!

But more formally…

Reconnection asks, how did our relationship with nature become broken, why does it matter and how can we fix it? From a past in which we were embedded in the natural world, revolutions in farming, science and industry have seen the human bond with nature eroded with the promise of prosperity offering happiness and meaning in life. This mindset may have delivered comfortable living for many, but there is growing recognition that the root cause of wildlife loss and the warming climate is people’s disconnection from nature, which is also an important factor in our mental health. Yet solutions focus on technical fixes to treat the symptoms of that damaged relationship, such as reducing carbon emissions and increasing habitat. What we urgently need is a whole new way of thinking.

Reconnection explores our hidden links with nature and through the science of nature connectedness, sets out ways to revivify the relationship across society. Here is a route to a meaningful life that unites both human and nature’s wellbeing for a truly sustainable future. What’s more, everybody has a role to play. From business leaders to conservationists, teachers to medics, from drivers to walkers, we can all reduce the damage we do and find new ways to bring nature into our lives. Reconnection considers the problems scientifically, then offers simple, practical, positive steps for how we can all work towards a better world.

Reviews

• Reconnection is a joy to read! It’s a thought-provoking, inspiring book which highlights the ever increasing need to step outside and re-embrace the natural world into our lives. For the benefit of individual wellbeing, for communities and for the health of our environment, I sincerely hope everybody reads this and seeks a closer relationship to nature.
  —Megan McCubbin, zoologist, conservationist and TV presenter
• It’s so valuable to see all the studies brought together and clearly explained – not only as evidence for the instincts we already have about how much connection to nature matters, but also to dispel some myths about how that connection works (or doesn’t), and how it might be improved. I found it absolutely fascinating and I can see it making an important contribution to so many sectors.
  —Melissa Harrison, author of All Among the Barley
• Fascinating, poignant and hopeful. Reconnection should be mandatory reading for us all.
  —Dr. Mya-Rose Craig, author of Birdgirl
• This is a book with muscle. Not a softly aspirational book about belonging and nature but an incisively written work that examines the needs that humans have for seeing themselves as part of the natural world. Reconnection is an important book that moved me, made me think and, made me smile.
  —Sir Tim Smit, Co-founder and Vice Chairman of the Eden Project
• Reconnection has the makings of a game-changing classic: hugely sophisticated thought and ideas framed within the most direct and simple language. Any schoolchild could understand it. In fact, all young people and everyone else concerned for the future of life on Earth should read it, if we want to end the nature crisis in our midst.
  —Mark Cocker, author of One Midsummer’s Day
• This book is both authoritative and personal, warm and carefully scientific. It busts myths, challenges assumptions and presents truths we can no longer ignore. And crucially, Richardson offers a compelling and practical vision of what we need to do – and why – to change our relationship with Nature. This is the how-to manual and a must-read for anyone searching for the tools to improve human lives and Nature’s future.
  —Mary-Ann Ochota, broadcaster and anthropologist
• As Miles Richardson says; nature makes sense. After reading his book you too will be in no doubt.
  —David Lindo, The Urban Birder
• Nature Connection is such an interesting topic. Aside from the physical adventures and mental joy that nature brings, that relationship is vital for our world and it is vital that we care enough to acknowledge the damage we are doing and take urgent steps to fix it.
  —Alastair Humphreys, author of Microadventures and The Doorstep Mile
• We’re all increasingly aware of how important our relationship with Nature is for our own good and for the good of the natural world. Instinctively we know we are not where we need to be. This book sets out in an accessible and thought provoking way the science that underpins that growing understanding and what we can all do as individuals and as a society to rebuild that relationship before it’s too late.
  —Beccy Speight, CEO, RSPB
• Richardson has produced a rich, timely and painstakingly researched account of what’s gone wrong in our relationship with nature and most urgently, how it might be fixed. It’s never mattered more, has it? I wish every policy maker, educators, economists and land managers would read and act on this book.
  —Amy-Jane Beer, naturalist and author of The Flow
• Miles Richardson expertly balances threat with hope in this timely and brilliant book. A must-read for anyone who values the natural world and our connection to it.
  —Hilary McGrady, Director General at the National Trust
• Reconnection is a timely, clear plea to understand just how disconnected we have become from nature. Until it is spelled out, it is easy to assume things are not so bad, that reconnection is just a matter of being more aware. This book shows that the fracture lines go deeper and are more damaging than they might appear on the surface, but it is ultimately a hopeful book, offering solutions that make a greener future seem vibrant and joyful – worth striving for.
  —Mary Colwell, author of Beak, Tooth and Claw
• Thought provoking, brilliantly researched, and surprising in some of its findings. Also extremely readable which, given the importance of its subject, is helpful for those of us without academic backgrounds. A must-read for educators, policy makers, and anyone else trying to raise awareness of the benefits and importance of Nature Reconnection.
  —Brigit Strawbridge Howard, author of Dancing with Bees
• A widening separation of people from nature threatens our physical health, our mental wellbeing and the very survival of our civilisation. In Reconnection, Miles Richardson poetically and expertly explores this monumental issue of our time and how we might go about fixing it.
  —Ben Goldsmith, philanthropist and environmentalist

 

Available from booksellers large (you know the ones) and small, such as:

• Pages of Hackney
• Five Leaves Bookshop
• Little Green Bookshop
• October Books
• Scarthin Books