Welcome to Finding Nature
Dr Miles Richardson @findingnature, researching our connection with nature and ways to improve it. Good for nature, good for you.
Nature Connectedness Research Group
In May 2013 I formed the Nature Connectedness Research Group which aims to understand people's connection to the natural environment and design and evaluate local interventions in order to improve connectedness; bringing about the associated benefits in well-being, creativity, and conservation behaviour.
Nature Connections 2015
Nature Connections 2015 will be an interdisciplinary conference to examine routes to nature connectedness.
Current Research
Recently completed data collection and analysis on the Reflecting on Our Nature, Pathways to Nature Connectedness and 1000 Good Things in Nature projects - research papers in preparation.
Completed Research - 3 Good Things in Nature
In Autumn 2013 data collection was completed for the 3 good things in nature project - finding nature through noting nature. It is hoped to show that a short writing task that fits in with everyday life in the local landscape can help people find nature - a public version of the study is under development. An article related to this work is available on the National Trust's Outdoor Nation blog, a formal paper on the work is under review.
Connecting to Local Nature
A paper exploring the rewards of nature that can be found in a familiar semi-rural landscape was published Februrary 2013 in the Humanistic Psychologist and is available online. The case-study paper informs current quantitative research which will explore practical ways to connecting to nature in the local landscape, which is more sustainable and fits better with the everyday lives of many. As an emotional connection to nature predicts pro-environmental attitudes and behaviour, the work presents a simple first step towards more sustainable human behaviour through a connectedness to the local landscape; so that, for once, our own well-being might lead to natures well-being. This paper is cited in Mindfulness in practice in woods and forests: an evidence review, by Dr Bianca Ambrose-Oji.
Richardson, M., and Hallam, J. (2013). Exploring the Psychological Rewards of a Familiar Semi-Rural Landscape: Connecting to Local Nature through a Mindful Approach. The Humanistic Psychologist, 41(1), 35-53.
Finding Nature App
A mobile phone app for Finding Nature was launched May 2013. Through noting 3 good things in nature each day for five days the android app aims to measurabley increase people's connection to nature. Find out more via YouTube. Download from Google Play.
"A journey of discovery is not just to wild landscapes, but finding wilderness in simple places close to home."