What is nature connection?

So, what exactly is this thing that we call nature connection?

As an evidence-based organization we spend a lot of time describing nature connection in research and science-based language, but it is important that we communicate something so fundamental as nature connection in a manner that we can all relate to.

If I asked you to describe your relationship with a family member, partner or friend, you would probably tell me something about the special connection that you have with this person. In doing so you might describe the emotional attachment that you have for that person including your trust, respect, care, love and admiration. You may also describe the bits that you feel uncomfortable about that person. We could equally use these emotions to describe a relationship or connection with nature.

If you were looking for a friend that was always there when you needed them, always made you feel good when you were with them, never judged you and always accepted you for who you are, was full of surprises and enlightening stories, improved your mood and wellbeing while spending time with them and was a part of your ancestry, you would value the relationship immensely……….well swipe right and introduce yourself to nature!

When developing or maintaining a close relationship with another person we engage all our senses– our sight, our hearing, smell, touch, imagination and taste (too much information!). So too is our connection with nature engaging all our senses. As with human relationships, our connection with nature can change over time depending on the experiences and amount of time we have had in nature. Our relationship can be reinforced by positive experiences or perhaps diminished by negative experiences, perceptions or other influences. Research has shown that those people who have a greater affinity for nature gain more wellbeing benefits when in nature. We also know that there is an enormous variation in individual perceptions of nature, including what people see and how they interact with nature. For example, as an ecologist my wellbeing experience in nature is influenced by my perceptions of the ecological quality of the natural environment around me. Are there weeds, is there rubbish, how modified is the vegetation, has there been clearing, logging, fire, human abuse etc., but my accountant friend who I am with doesn’t ‘see’ any of these things to negatively influence the experience.    

So, your connection with nature is as individual as you are and we can’t buy it on an app, order it from Amazon or swipe right but we can take the time to either start or strengthen a connection with this most incredible friend that a human can have.