Once I had decided that the direction of my project was moving towards developing connections between people and nature, I began by brainstorming my ideas around connections to nature, which you can see below.
From this initial thinking, I developed 3 key areas that need to be addressed:
- Why do we need to connect, or more precisely re-connect, with nature?
- How will this re-connection be achieved?
- How will this re-connection be measured?
1- Why do we need to re-connect with nature?
Humans have an innate connection to nature. However, due to technological advancements, extended working hours and processes such as urbanisation we have become distant from the natural world (Bragg et al., 2013). On average people spend 90% of their time indoors (Opinium, 2018), and given the current restrictions with the pandemic this figure has undoubtedly been heightened even further! Subsequently, being indoors already immediately removes us from the natural world in its traditional sense. However, there are many different methodologies which will be tested and adapted throughout the course of this project to bring the natural world to the indoors; effectively bringing the natural world to the people.
Connecting to nature is the amount that an individual includes nature in their personal identity (Schultz, 2002). Connection includes understanding the complexities of nature, good and bad and accepting it as a whole (Nisbet et al., 2009). Connectedness to nature is also an indicator for subjective reports of wellbeing, for example connection to nature has been taken to include feelings of peacefulness, developing a sense of place and a respect for nature (Hine et al., 2009).
Having a strong connection with nature is important because…
Nature Deficit Disorder is the human implications of a disconnect from nature. The disorder involves costs of diminished attention rates, increased mental and physical illness and reduced use of the senses (Louv, 2005). Originally this disorder was focused upon children, however in more recent academic study it has also been observed in adults. Reconnecting adults with the natural world is not only important for their personal health and lives, it is also important to pass on experiences of the natural environment to their children, otherwise connection to nature will eventually be lost due to a term referred to as ‘extinction of experience’ whereby children spend less and less time in nature as adults are disconnected from it (Pyle, 2003).
The implications for connecting people with nature, in the setting of hospitality spaces that serve food and drink is demonstrated again through the diagram below.
2- How will this re-connection to nature be achieved?
Reconnecting with nature will be achieved through implementing biophilic, biomimetic and natural design features into hospitality spaces.
Therefore, the connections will be developed through exposure. Exposing people to natural design in informal spaces that they typically visit for leisure allows people the freedom to explore the applications of nature and soak in their benefits, consequently developing their personal relationship and connection with nature.
Through applications of biophilic design, many spaces that we spend a great deal of time in are being adapted to bring in the benefits of nature, such as in the workplace, healthcare spaces and hotel accommodation. Consequently, providing an opportunity to learn from these applications of nature and build off them to apply nature into hospitality spaces but instead aimed to evoke re-connection to nature.
The scientific evidence for the exposure to nature having a positive correlation with improvements to personal health both physical and mental, is continuing to increase (Defra, 2011). Subsequently, re-connecting people with the natural world via exposure to natural elements is firstly of benefit to the individual and their health; secondly it may allow for increased attention to be paid the future survival of the natural world.
3- How will this re-connection with nature be measured?
A baseline level of connection to nature will need to be established to conduct this work. Baseline studies of general populations and granges already exist in academic work and so they may be utilised in my project.
To measure the changes in connection to nature there are limited measures, as it is an emerging concept (Schultz et al., 2004).
Key measures of connectedness to nature :
Connection to Nature Scale
- Single-factor measure
- Developed by Mayer and Frantz, 2004
- Based on the principle of the ‘Land Ethic’ by Leopold (1966)
- Defines connection to nature as “an individual’s affective, experiential connection to nature” (Mayer and Frantz, 2004, pp.504)
- Considered primarily a trait measure but there is an adapted version for measuring state (which previous University of Essex research has shown to be responsive).
Nature Relatedness Scale
- 3-factor measure – self, perspective and experience
- Developed by Nisbet, Zelenski and Murphy, 2009.
- Nature relatedness describes individual levels of connectedness with the natural world and comprises the cognitive, affective, and physical connection we have with nature (Nisbet et al., 2011).
- “Self” = “an internalized identification with nature, reflecting feelings and thoughts about one’s personal connection to nature” (Nisbet et al., 2009).
- “Perspective” = “an external, nature-related worldview, a sense of agency concerning individual human actions and their impact on all living things” (Nisbet et al., 2009)
- “Experience” = “a physical familiarity with the natural world and the level of comfort with and desire to be out in nature” (Nisbet et al., 2009)
- Considered a trait measure.
Inclusion of Nature with Self
- Single-item question
- Developed by Schultz, 2002
- Designed to measure the extent that individuals include nature as part of their identity. Schultz considers ‘inclusion’ to involve caring about nature (affective), connectedness (defined here as cognitive) and commitment (behavioural).
- The question asks participants to rate their connectedness to nature by choosing one of seven pairs of circles that differ in their degree of overlap.
- The question can be used as either a state or a trait measure (there are two different wordings) (Schultz, 2002).
Environmental Identity Scale
- Developed by Clayton, 2003
- Designed to assess the extent to which individuals identify with the natural environment and environmental causes.
- 24-item scale which looks at spending time in nature, enjoyment of nature, learning about nature, responsibility for nature and ‘oneness’ with nature.
Emotional Affinity to Nature
- Developed by Kals, Schumacher, & Montada, 1999
- 4-factor measure
- Emotional affinity toward nature is described as being the love or affection towards nature (107) and the hypothesis is that this emotional affinity should increase nature-protective behaviours.
- The 16-item scale consists of four subscales: Love of nature, Feelings of Freedom, Feelings of Safety, and Feelings of Oneness with Nature.
- Considered a state measure.
At present, for my project I am looking to employ the measures of connectedness to nature of: Nature relatedness scale, Inclusion of nature with self, and emotional affinity to nature. These scales may be employed by following a group of regular customers to a specific hospitality business over a period of time, if the relationship is built up with customers and business owners to allow this. Otherwise, the measures may be employed on an individual visit by visit basis. The nature relatedness scale may be useful in gaining a sense of how peoples opinions to the wider natural world differ depending on their interactions with nature. Emotional affinity to nature may be utilised to gauge personal feelings towards nature, perhaps pertaining to changes in emotional state and wellbeing. Inclusion of nature with self may allow individuals to define succinctly, due to the one question nature of the measure, the connectedness to nature. However, I will continue to explore if any other measures of connection to nature may be more suitable for my project, as my work evolves.
Re-connecting With Nature
In the endeavour to re-connect with nature I have developed a working title for a consultancy or organisation that I aim to form to establish this goal. ‘Nature. In’ aims to bring nature back into spaces in which it is currently excluded. This inclusion of nature will begin in hospitality spaces that serve food and drink and will be scaled up to other hospitality settings if it proves to be successful.
The aim to reconnect people with nature in hospitality spaces, which are typically visited for leisure provides people with the freedom to explore feeling connected to nature, along with feeling its benefits, such as becoming re-energised. Consequently, people will return to nature to feel the benefits once again, thus growing their relationship. People may even give back to the natural world that they have formed a relationship with, by caring for it and subsequently helping to tackle the climate crisis.
Creating this re-connection is not a step away from the change I previously proposed at the end of Project 5 (see below). Instead forming a re-connection to nature, as proposed, is the single-strand accumulation of all the different aspects that were involved in my previously proposed change; thus, it embodies the same change I wish to see.
Bibliography
Bragg, R., Wood, C., Barton, J. and Pretty, J. (2013) “Measuring connection to nature in children aged 8-12: A robust methodology for the RSPB.” University of Essex.
Clayton, S. (2003) “Environmental identity: A conceptual and an operational definition.” Identity and the natural environment: The psychological significance of nature, pp.45-65.
Defra (2011) “The natural choice: securing the value of nature, Natural Environment White Paper.” The Stationery Office, London.
Hine R, Pretty J and Barton J. (2009) “Research Project: Social, Psychological and Cultural Benefits of Large Natural Habitat & Wilderness Experience: A review of current literature. Report for the Wilderness Foundation.” Available at: http://www.essex.ac.uk/ces/occasionalpapers/Kerry/Literature%20Review%20for%20WF.pdf
Kals, E., D. Schumacher, and L. Montada (1999) “Emotional affinity toward nature as a motivational basis to protect nature.” Environment & Behavior 31, no. 2: 178–202.
Louv, R. (2005) Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder North Carolina, Algonquin Books.
Leopold A. (1966) “A Sand County Almanac: With Other Essays On Conservation from Round River.” Oxford University Press.
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Nisbet E, Zelenski J and Murphy S. (2011) “Happiness is in our Nature: Exploring Nature Relatedness as a Contributor to Subjective Well-Being.” Journal of Happiness Studies, Vol 12, 2, pp. 303-322.
Opinium (2018) “Brits spend 90% of their time indoors” Opinium [Online] https://www.opinium.com/brits-spend-90-of-their-time-indoors/ Accessed 30/04/21
Pyle RM. (2003) “Nature Matrix: reconnecting people and nature.” Oryx 37(2): 206–214
Schultz, P. W. (2002) “Inclusion with nature: The psychology of human-nature relations.” In P. Schmuck & W. P. Schultz (Eds.), Psychology of sustainable development pp. 62-78. Norwell, MA: Kluwer.
Schultz, P.W., C. Shriver, J.J. Tabanico, and A.M. Khazian (2004) “Implicit connections with nature.” Journal of Environmental Psychology 24, no. 1: 31–42.