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The idea that we need nature and
nature needs us is as true for individuals
as it is for the economy. People’s mental
and physical wellbeing are inextricably
linked to the environment and a growing
disconnection from nature is having
serious implications for health and
wellbeing. On the other side of the coin,
protection of nature depends on people
caring for the world around them and
feeling a sense of pride and stewardship.
Any long-term plan for nature must
include steps to reconnect people
with the natural world.
Getting into nature
The UK has a proud tradition of
naturalists, amateur and professional,
and a culture of connection with the
countryside around us. However, that
tradition is being eroded. Our connection
with nature is being weakened by the
digital age, by the disappearance of
natural environments around our homes,
and by an increasing sense that it is not
safe to allow our children to roam free
and experience nature first hand. Since
the 1970s, there has been an almost
90% decline in the area around home
where children are allowed to roam
unsupervised. The proportion of children
who play in wild places has fallen from
half to less than one in ten.
The problem is more pronounced for
the poorest, most marginal and most
vulnerable in our society—arguably
those who need nature the most.
Natural England has found that the
frequency of children’s visits to the
natural environment is linked to ethnicity
and socioeconomic status, with those
from black, Asian and minority ethnic
(BAME) and poorer households less
likely to get out into nature.
According to Natural England,
the places visited most often by
children were urban parks and play
grounds. Again, nature reserves
tended to be visited more often by
wealthier, non-BAME families.
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Our connection with nature
Why it matters
Limiting exposure to nature can have
serious physical and psychological health
ramifications. Children disproportionately
suffer the long-term developmental
consequences of limited experiences
in nature. For example, the Ramsar
Convention and the World Health
Organisation recognise that ‘wetland
ecosystems, and their changes,
including their degradation, will have
consequences for the mental health of
populations who live in a wetland setting’.
Separation from nature may not have
caused modern health crises, but it
certainly contributes:
At least one in four people will
experience a significant mental
health problem. About 35,000 children
in England are being prescribed
anti-depressants.
Around three in ten children in
England aged between two and
15 are either overweight or obese.
Taking part in nature-based activities
helps people who are suffering from
mental ill-health and can contribute
to a reduction in levels of anxiety, stress,
and depression. It can help people
overcome physical health problems,
warding off heart disease and diabetes.
Natural England has shown that where
people have good access to green
space they are 24% more likely to
be physically active. If everyone were
afforded equitable good access to
green space, the estimated saving to
the health service could be in the order
of £2.1 billion per annum in England
alone. Educational benefits such as
increased concentration and reduced
stress also offer improvements for
equity and productivity.
So, improving access to nature is
good for health, education, community,
economy and for the environment.