Conference explored our connection to the natural world

The psychological concept of nature connectedness refers to a person's sense of relationship with the rest of the natural world. Interest in nature connectedness has grown rapidly over the past decade within and beyond academia, with professionals, practitioners and policy makers making use of the science to improve how people think about, feel towards, and engage with nature. 

The University of Derby's Nature Connectedness Research Group (NCRG) is widely recognised as a hub for nature connection research and impact, shaping practices and policies for connecting people with the rest of nature in the UK and around the world. 

In 2015, the NCRG launched an annual conference series which was then sent into a period of hibernation due to the pandemic. On 24-25 June 2024, the Nature Connections Conference was roused from its sleep, bringing together researchers, professionals, and practitioners to share and discuss developments in nature connection research and practice. 

The conference offered one and a half days of talks (keynotes, papers, and five-minute thesis), a poster session, workshops, and an art exhibition. The event was fully sold out, with 200 delegates (and a long waiting list), from a broad spectrum of public, private, charity, environmental, education, and health sectors, from around the UK, as well as from India and Sweden. 

Day one was held at the Derby Museum of Making Silk Mill, with a full day of talks on research, practice, and crossovers between the two. Sessions included Understanding human-nature relationships; Health and wellbeing; Children, young people and education; Engaging with nature; and Five-minute thesis talks. 

Broad range of topics

A broad range of topics and approaches were shared, including autistic adults' experiences of nature connection, to nature disconnection, economic assessment of green social prescribing, arts in nature for children, relational pedagogies, allotment gardening, connections with plants and invertebrates, supernatural beliefs and nature connectedness, children's soundscapes, leadership with nature, citizen science in schools, and much more. 

Keynote talks were given by Professor Miles Richardson, founder and lead of NCRG, and Dr Caroline Harvey and Dr Fiona Holland, senior lecturers in psychology at the University of Derby. 

Professor Richardson set the context for the day, with a reminder of the importance of nature connection for human and planetary wellbeing and an overview of the scale and speed of growth in nature connection research and impact. 

Drs Harvey and Holland shared their body of work exploring the impact of nature-based interventions for children and young people, including evaluation of the national Generation Green programme, and work with Wildlife Trusts. They introduced their new resource involving a set of activities for connecting young children and their families with nature. 

Closing reflections were offered by Dr Ryan Lumber (Nottingham Trent University) whose PhD research at the University of Derby developed the pathways to nature connectedness framework, which are used around the world in nature connection design and delivery initiatives. 

Art exhibition

Attendees then visited the Derby Cathedral to view the exhibition curated by UoD's Caroline Locke, associate professor of arts, Our Stories are Wild. The exhibition brings together artists and researchers who focus on the human-nature relationship, with over 25 artists and collaborators. Many of the artworks and films reveal an emotional and spiritual connection with our environment and explore themes of care, hope and responsibility. 

On Day two a number of workshops run by the University of Derby NCRG members were offered, including evaluating nature-based interventions, forest bathing, imagination in a time of crisis, artificial light at night and ecosomatics. 

The enthusiasm for the event and the quality of the work showcased across the two days, demonstrates the strength and vitality of the field. There was a palpable sense of what can be achieved with researchers and professionals working together to understand how best to grow and nurture nature connectedness. 

The passion among delegates for improving people's relationships with nature for human wellbeing and the protection and regeneration of the more-than-human world was heartening and inspiring. As interest and activity in this area continues to swell, so too does the sense of hope and action that are so vital in meeting the challenges of the climate, ecological and mental illbeing crises.