Session 5: Connection to nature

Introduction

A strong connection to nature is recognised as being beneficial to our health and wellbeing, and as a driver for pro-environmental behaviour. The natural world can provide a space for de-stressing, exercise, mental wellbeing, learning and wonder.

Figure 1 Learning and living in nature.

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A small child sitting in a field with grasses and herbs pointing at a flower.

Figure 1 Learning and living in nature.

For much of human history, people lived close to nature and the seasonal cycles, with an intimate knowledge of how the natural world provides us with what we need to live. However, most of us now live in an increasingly urbanised and industrial society and our connection to nature is much more limited. Many of us are worried about the damage that humans are doing to the environment, about climate change and loss of wildlife and natural habitats, and we live with this worry or ‘eco-anxiety’.

Can a better connection to nature and finding ways to cope with eco-anxiety improve our health and wellbeing, and help us to take action to help the environment?

This session is the fifth of seven sessions on different but related topics that you might be interested in. The sessions in this course are as follows:

• Session 1: Biodiversity
• Session 2: Climate change
• Session 3: Flood risk
• Session 4: Food security
• Session 5: Connection to nature
• Session 6: Water quality
• Session 7: Next steps