1 Nature connections

For millennia, humans relied on an intimate knowledge of the cycles of nature for hunting, gathering and agriculture. However, since the advent of urbanisation, people’s intimate link with nature has begun to weaken. This separation from nature is thought to have contributed to an increase in anxiety and depression. The concept that the human world is separate from the natural world is a relatively modern one; most traditional schools of thought regard humans as part of the natural world.

People with a strong connection to nature tend to have an increased motivation to care for it and show more pro-environmental behaviour. Spending time outdoors in nature and learning more about the natural world improves our connection to nature including our affinity for nature (having positive feelings toward nature such as awe, wonder and care) and our comfort in nature (feeling safe and comfortable in nature and knowledgeable about nature).

The UK is now one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Life is lived at a fast pace, and we don’t always take the time to connect with what is around us. Nevertheless, we often define ourselves based on our family history, stories from the local landscape and community traditions that reflect our previous more intimate connection with nature. We still celebrate these links through festivals, activities, artworks and stories, as you can see in the following carousel of images.