We are increasingly becoming aware of the harms of our perceived disconnection from the natural world and of increasing polarization amongst our fellow Humans. Whilst we work hard to counter the effects of climate change, loss of wildlife, war and social injustice, surely we cannot fix these problems using the same mindset that created them. As a foundation, we need […]
There’s a lot of focus on eco-anxiety specifically in young people and the toll it is having on them. It should be a wake-up call to fix the source of the problem, but it runs into a number of false narratives:1. It affects only young people2. It only affects them because they do not have the skills to deal with […]
People protect what they care about. As we have become increasingly isolated from nature, it is little wonder that our behaviours are not always helpful for wildlife or the planet. Children and adults have all been experiencing this human-nature disconnect. A few years ago, the Oxford Junior Dictionary removed at least 50 nature words, including acorn, dandelion and ivy. This […]
I recently wrote about anxiety and how it can be your superpower. This is especially clear when it comes to eco-anxiety. I have found it really easy to feel paralysed by a whole swathe of difficult feelings, from anxiety to grief, guilt to anger. At times I have felt despair. I have also experienced a sense of frantic urgency and […]
Connecting with how you feel in nature is a powerful part of nature connection. It is very simple, but possibly not easy if you are not used to getting in touch with your emotions. However, I believe it offers a safe space to build the capacity to do this – we are not talking about getting in touch with difficult […]
How many times have we heard people talk about all the birdsong they have been able to hear during the Covid-19 lockdown? Suddenly, without the aircraft and traffic noise, all the vibrancy of spring has leapt out at us like a 3D movie. As restrictions have eased, I have felt a sense of loss and also a sense of being […]