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Strategic Research Network for People and Nature. Round Up of Recent Research, Policy and Practice - July 2020

Welcome to the latest round up of information. This is a round up of recent and relevant evidence and reports, policy agenda developments, large scale delivery sector initiatives, resources and news items from the UK and abroad. This supports the Strategic Research Network for People and Nature to develop better coherence and collaboration in research and to improve links between research, policy and practice in these areas. There won't be a round up in August, so the next one will be in September - thanks.

The round up is for Strategic Research Network members, National Outdoors for All Working Group members and a wide range of colleagues across policy and delivery sectors.

We are aware that this is a long document as we have attempted to capture a wide range of information that may be of interest. We always welcome feedback on whether this is useful as a way of sharing information as well as any suggestions for improvements.

If you have your own work or know of other papers that would be of interest or would like more information on the Strategic Research Network please contact Martin Gilchrist martin.gilchrist@naturalengland.org.uk. Thank you, as always, to those who have sent in contributions this month.

Many thanks - Martin Gilchrist, Sarah Preston & Anne Hunt
 
Collated and issued by a partnership of Natural England and The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom on behalf of and for the Strategic Research Network and National Outdoors for All Working Group

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Welcome to the latest round up of information for March. Contributions featuring members of the SRN and direct recipients of this round up are highlighted in green below.
 

This round up has the following sections

RESEARCH & REPORTS

Nature Connection, Engagement & Pro-environmental Behaviour

Health and Wellbeing

Learning

RESOURCES & BLOGS

SURVEY CALLS
 

RESEARCH AND REPORTS

Nature Connection, Engagement and Pro-environmental Behaviour
 
The green care code: How nature connectedness and simple activities help explain pro‐nature conservation behaviours
M Richardson, HA Passmore, L Barbett, R Lumber. R Thomas, A Hunt - People and Nature
This study is the first of its kind to use a validated scale of pro-nature conservation behaviour. We examined factors that accounted for pro-nature conservation behaviour. These were: individual characteristics (demographics, nature connectedness), nature experiences (time spent in nature, engaging with nature through simple activities, indirect engagement with nature), knowledge and attitudes (knowledge/ study of nature, valuing and concern for nature) and pro-environmental behaviour. Together, these explained 70% of the variation in people's actions for nature.Engaging in simple nature activities (which is related to nature connectedness) emerged as the largest significant contributor to pro-nature conservation behaviour.
 
Emerging Biophilic Urbanism: The Value of the Human–Nature Relationship in the Urban Space
S Totaforti - Sustainability
The research presented in this article adopts an urban sociology perspective to explore the relationship between spaces designed with biophilic principles and people’s pro-environmental values and behaviors. Focus groups were conducted to investigate how people’s relationship with the built-up space and the natural landscape is perceived, and to what extent the inclusion of nature and its patterns at various levels of urban planning meets people’s expectations. The results suggest that biophilic design and planning can be considered a useful paradigm to deal with the challenges that are posed by the city of the future, also in terms of sustainability, by reinterpreting and enhancing the human–nature relation in the urban context.
 
Connecting to nature through tech? The case of the iNaturalist app
S Altrudi – Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies
Self-defined as ‘an online social network of people sharing biodiversity information to help each other learn about nature’, iNaturalist is a mobile application whose primary goal is ‘to connect people to nature’, closely followed by the secondary goal of ‘generating scientifically valuable biodiversity data from these personal encounters’, which the founders believe can be achieved simultaneously with the primary goal in a self-reinforcing logic. Following an approach informed by media studies on wildlife photography and film, and science and technology studies as well as insights from interviews with users and participant observation in the Los Angeles area, this article makes the case that mobile applications such as iNaturalist sit at a tension because while they can ignite interest in the natural environment, they also prescriptively describe and normalize a ‘nature’ and an epistemology that are particular to the natural sciences.
 
Impact of community gardening on lifestyles' sustainability: quantitative & qualitative evaluation of a natural experiment
M Tharrey et al – Research Square (pre-print)
The “JArDinS” quasi-experimental study aimed to assess the impact of community garden participation on the adoption of more sustainable lifestyles in French adults. Individuals starting gardening in community gardens in Montpellier (France) in 2018 were compared to pairwise matched individuals with no experience in community gardening. Using a longitudinal design allowing causality assessment, no impact was observed of the first year of community gardening on lifestyle sustainability. The pre-established sensitivity to sustainability and the various barriers encountered by new gardeners might explain the absence of community gardening impact.
 
Are Children Actually Losing Contact with Nature, or Is It That Their Experiences Differ from Those of 120 years Ago?
P Novotný, E Zimová, A Mazouchová, A Šorgo - Environment and Behavior
This study compared the experience with nature of today’s children with data from the beginning of the 20th century to determine whether we can confirm a loss of experience and contribute to the description of changes in children’s relationship with nature. We used a questionnaire originally published in 1900 for this survey. Results from contemporary participants tested showed no difference in level of experience according to the age of the respondents. Although children of the 21st century have less experience with traditional extensive farming activities and biotechnologies, they have much more experience with nature, apparently connected with recreational and field-trip activities. We cannot confirm a decrease in experience among generations, on the contrary, we found a summary increase in experience.
 
Public Awareness of Nature and the Environment During the COVID-19 Crisis
S Rousseau, N Deschacht - Environmental and Resource Economics
By analyzing online search behavior in twenty European countries, we investigate how public awareness of nature and the environment has evolved during the COVID-19 crisis. We find that the crisis goes hand in hand with a positive shift in public awareness of nature-related topics, but that awareness of environmental topics remains unaffected.
 
Green and Screen: Does Mobile Photography Enhance or Hinder our Connection to Nature?
A Barrable, D Booth - Digital Culture and Education
This short article aims to explore the effect of using mobile technology to enhance our connection to nature, through a short-term intervention. A total of 57 undergraduates (age range 20 - 31) were randomised into two groups and undertook a short walk in urban nature, with the instruction to notice the beauty in nature and note three beautiful things. Results showed that although the intervention had an overall positive effect on participants’ connection to nature, technology neither enhanced nor hindered it.
 
Are “people” or “animals” more attractive? Anthropomorphic images in green-product advertising
X Wang, M Mingming, Z Yuqiao - Journal of Cleaner Production
This study used experiments to explore the effect of matching green-product types with anthropomorphic advertising images on consumer responses. A significant matching effect was found to exist between green-product types and anthropomorphic advertising images. The effect was stronger when self-interested green products matched humanoid images and when altruistic green products matched animal images. Specifically, self-interested green products produced better persuasion effects by being matched with humanoid anthropomorphic advertising images, and altruistic green products produced better persuasion effects by being matched with animal anthropomorphic advertising images
 
From childhood nature experiences to adult pro-environmental behaviors: An explanatory model of sustainable food consumption
E Molinario et al - Environmental Education Research
In two studies, the role of nature experiences and social norms during childhood is explored next to adulthood biospheric values, connectedness to nature, environmental identity, and objective knowledge in relation to pro-environmental behaviors. Results show that childhood nature experiences and exposure to pro-environmental social norms during childhood are related to adulthood development of connectedness with nature and biospheric values; these, in turn, help in shaping adulthood environmental self-identity ultimately influencing the enactment of sustainable food choices during adulthood. These findings point toward the relevance of childhood experiences for pro-environmental behaviors as compared to the provision of information.
 
From Human Wellbeing to an Ecocentric Perspective: How Nature-Connectedness Can Extend the Benefits of Marine Wildlife Experiences
R Yerbury, B Weiler - Anthrozoös
This study explores what marine mammal encounters mean to people and how they affect connection to and understanding of nature. The paper draws on responses to three survey questions, two quantitative and one qualitative, by 625 predominantly Australian participants. Significant differences were found between the three types of marine mammal experiences on subjective meaning, with highest levels in the wild random, then ecotour, then captive experience. Similarly, participants with wild experiences were more likely to report that the experience had influenced their nature connection than those who had captive mammal experiences. A model is proposed for understanding how marine mammal experiences can facilitate the quest for human wellbeing and meaning.
 
The meaning(s) of place: Identifying the structure of sense of place across a social ecological landscape
Rajala et al - People and Nature
We introduce the meaning‐dependence framework to account for the broad array of person–place connections within social–ecological landscapes. We applied this framework to private landowners in the Southern Great Plains of the United States, a working landscape experiencing ecological transformation from grasslands to degraded woodlands. Place meanings explained a large amount of variation in place attachment and were characterized by intercorrelations and interactions. Across analyses, experiential meanings reflecting personal psychological connections to one's land were the predominant drivers of landowners' place attachment. Way of life emerged as a central meaning for understanding sense of place on private lands.
 
 
Health and Wellbeing
 
Walk with a Doc—a Call to Action for Physician-Led Walking Programs
D Sabgir, J Dorn - Current Cardiology Reports
An abundance of data supports the health benefits of physical activity, social connectedness, and spending time outdoors. Yet, a majority of Americans are living lives that are sedentary, lonely, and not connected with nature. We have three primary goals in writing this paper. First, we will review the well-documented health challenges arising from a sedentary, isolated lifestyle. Second, we will discuss the benefits of walking as a primary means of increasing physical activity. Finally, we will shine a light on the exponential success of Walk with a Doc, a national non-profit organization. Walk with a Doc focuses on bringing physician-led enthusiasm into our communities by organizing regular doctor-led walks in the outdoors.
 
Community-based rehabilitation approaches in outdoor settings: a systematic review of people with disabilities' and professionals' experiences and perceptions
LS Madsen, C Handberg, CM Jensen, CV Nielsen - Disability & Society
This systematic review sheds light on the link between community-based rehabilitation (CBR) approaches and outdoor settings. The aim was to examine and synthesise qualitative knowledge on people with disabilities’ and professionals’ experiences and perceptions regarding facilitators and barriers to CBR approaches in outdoor settings. The synthesis revealed four themes: Ability to Overcome Challenges, Outdoor Adaptive Activities, Inclusive Social Communities and Culture of Reciprocal Interaction. The link between CBR approaches and outdoor settings seemed to empower participation opportunities and social inclusion of people with disabilities, which stimulated equality among all people involved. However, to transfer potential benefits into society, beyond the formalised programme contexts, more focus is needed on creation of inclusive environments.
 
Innovative solutions to enhance safe and green environments for ageing well using co-design through Patient and Public Involvement.
A Hatton et al - Research Involvement and Engagement
Our aim was to identify the needs of older people in relation to ageing well in the environment by bringing together knowledge from different perspectives using Patient and Public Involvement. Five themes were identified, comprising: access and transport; involvement of the whole community; restoration rather than redesign; assistive and digital technology; and intergenerational approaches. These dimensions related to the physical, social and nature-based qualities of everyday environments, as they pertain to ageing well.
 
The well-being and human health benefits of exposure to the marine and coastal environment  
Defra Evidence Statement
 
‘Covid-19: understanding inequalities in mental health during the pandemic’
Centre for Mental Health Report
 
Art, nature and mental health: assessing the biopsychosocial effects of a ‘creative green prescription’ museum programme involving horticulture, artmaking and collections
Thomson et al – Perspectives in Public Health
This study aimed to assess the biopsychosocial effects of participation in a unique, combined arts- and nature-based museum intervention, involving engagement with horticulture, artmaking and museum collections, on adult mental health service users. Thematic analysis of interview data revealed increased feelings of wellbeing brought about by improved self-esteem, decreased social isolation and the formation of communities of practice. Statistical analysis of pre–post quantitative measures found a highly significant increase in psychological wellbeing.
 
Nature and Pets
V Sharma-Brymer, K Dashper, E Brymer – Chapter in The Handbook of Wellness Medicine
This chapter provides evidence for the importance of nature and pets in facilitating human wellness.
 
Viewing nature scenes reduces the pain of social ostracism
Y Yang, L Wang, HA Passmore, J Zhang, L Zhu, H Cai - The Journal of Social Psychology
In a series of four studies, we explored the effects of viewing nature scenes on promoting recovery from ostracism. We first manipulated experiences of ostracism, then randomly assigned participants to view photos of either nature, urban scenes, or neutral objects. Across all four studies, participants who viewed nature photos reported significantly lower levels of state social pain, along with significantly higher levels of affect balance and self-esteem. Moreover, when asked to look back and recall how they felt at the time of being ostracized, participants who viewed nature photos reported significantly higher levels of retrospective satisfaction of basic emotional needs than did participants in control conditions.
 
'Thriving With Nature'
Mental Health Foundation guidebook
Thriving with Nature - a guide for everyone. Making the most of the UK's natural spaces for our mental health and wellbeing.
 
Coronavirus: Mental Health in the Pandemic
The Mental Health Foundation is leading this ongoing, UK-wide, long-term study of how the pandemic is affecting people’s mental health, working with the University of Cambridge, Swansea University, the University of Strathclyde and Queen’s University Belfast. This study has found that six in ten UK adults (62 per cent) who had felt stress because of COVID-19 said going for a walk had helped them to cope – making it the most popular activity of all those listed in the survey. Meanwhile, almost half of UK adults surveyed (47 per cent) who had felt stress because of COVID-19 said that being able to visit green spaces had helped them to cope.
 
Building health and well-being in prison: Learning from the Master Gardener Programme in a Midlands prison
G Brown, E Bos, G Brady – Chapter in book
This chapter presents the findings from an evaluation of the Master Gardener Programme, a horticultural intervention with substance misusing men in prison. The extension of the programme from a community to a prison setting was in recognition of research evidence that showed a range of positive outcomes associated with the role of horticulture in supporting physical, emotional, behavioural and social well-being. Here, we focus on the impact of the programme on health and well-being and reflect on gardening as an embodied practice and the garden as a space that promotes humanisation and self-worth, community and a connection to nature.
 
Mental wellbeing in children and young people: What about the boys?
The Youth Sport Trust Report
Sets out the potential for sport to play a greater role in improving boys’ mental health. It comes amid increasing worries about mental health, anti-social behaviour and lack of achievement and aspirations among boys.
 
A scoping review of the impact on children of the built environment design characteristics of healing spaces.
Gaminiesfahani, Lozanovska & Tucker - Health Environments Research & Design Journal
This review of the literature indicates that having direct or even indirect access to nature can reduce pain and stress, enhance social functioning, and promote an increased sense of control in pediatric healthcare environments. Healing gardens, natural lighting, sounds of nature, and art with nature-related motifs were some of the nature-related elements cited in this review.

3-Dimensional nature-based therapeutics in paediatric patients with total pancreatectomy and islet auto-transplant
Kucher et al – Complimentary Therapies in Medicine
This proof of concept study demonstrated that the use of 3-D Nature-Based Therapy glasses could reduce pain, anxiety, and nausea in children and adolescents undergoing extensive surgical procedures
 
Life satisfaction linked to the diversity of nature experiences and nature views from the window
C Chang et al - Landscape and Urban Planning
  • Diversity of nature experience is positively associated with life satisfaction.
  • Diversity of nature environment should be considered in urban greenspace planning.
  • Nature view from the window is also associated with higher life satisfaction.
  • Connection with nature affects the link between nature dose and life satisfaction.
  • Developing connection with nature may enhance the benefits from nature experience.
 
Does a natural environment enhance the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)? Examining the mental health and wellbeing, and nature connectedness benefits
EY Choe, A Jorgensen, D Sheffield - Landscape and Urban Planning
  • Participants in natural environment showed less stress and rumination and enhanced reflection.
  • Participants in natural environment showed greater nature connectedness than other groups.
  • The change in nature connectedness mediated the changes in participants’ levels of reflection.
 
Exploring perceptions of how nature recreation benefits mental wellbeing: a qualitative enquiry
E Brymer, J Crabtree, R King - Annals of Leisure Research
Evidence suggests that experiences in nature enhance mental wellbeing. However, we are yet to clearly understand the processes through which this occurs. This study employed an exploratory qualitative approach to investigate how time spent in nature supports mental wellbeing. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 participants. Thematic analysis yielded three dominant themes: (1) ‘a sense of perspective’, (2) ‘mental and emotional sanctuary’ and (3) ‘being immersed in the moment’. Themes echoed relaxation and restoration of mental functioning, enhanced positive affect in natural environments and feelings of oneness with nature. However, participants also described experiences that reflected increased mindfulness, gratitude and awe, gaining a broader perspective on their concerns and feeling humbled in nature.
 
 
Learning
 
What future/s for outdoor and environmental education in a world that has contended with COVID-19?
Including contributions from Simon Beames, Rowena Passy and Sue Waite- Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education
This article brings together the perspectives of many on the journal’s editorial board, around the issue of contending with COVID-19. Twenty statements showcase a range of thoughts and experiences, highlighting the differences and similarities in the way the pandemic is impacting on the educational practice of outdoor and environmental education.
 
Early childhood environmental education: A systematic review of the research literature
NM Ardoin, AW Bowers - Educational Research Review
  • We systematically reviewed 66 early-childhood environmental education studies.
  • Environmental education supports young children's affective and cognitive growth.
  • Nature connection is important for children's healthy social-emotional development.
  • Nature-rich settings and experiences are key in early environmental education.
  • Early-childhood environmental education approaches emphasize play and movement.
 
The effect of school design on users' responses: A systematic review.
S Manca, V Cerina, V Tobia, S Sacchi, F Fornara - Sustainability
This systematic review focused on the effect of the educational environment design on students’ and teachers’ performance, satisfaction, and wellbeingFrom the analysis of research findings, the key role of pleasant, warm, and flexible learning environments emerged, for promoting both wellbeing and performance of users. More specifically, the presence of charming colors and pictures, ergonomic furniture, and adequate acoustic, thermal comfort, ventilation, and natural lighting have emerged as important features that school designers should care for. Furthermore, an integration of both indoor and outdoor learning situations showed to be effective for improving students’ learning and wellbeing
 
Adventure in the Age of COVID-19: Embracing Microadventures and Locavism in a Post-Pandemic World
SH Mackenzie, J Goodnow - Leisure Sciences
Unprecedented mobility restrictions due to COVID-19 have frozen the adventure travel and tourism industry. These restrictions have forced many to embrace ‘hyperlocal’ approaches to adventure and provided an opportunity to reimagine our adventure travel philosophies and practices. This essay first critiques pre-pandemic adventure travel and describes the hazards of this approach in age of COVID-19. It then explores creative ‘lockdown’ microadventures; envisions what post-pandemic adventure may look like; and explains why we not only need to embrace microadventures in a post-pandemic world, but also why we may prefer them to traditional adventure travel
 
A new focus for education?: nature connection as a goal for all education: theoretical, research and practical perspectives
A Barrable – PhD University of Dundee
This thesis examines nature connection and its correlates, which include wellbeing, pro-environmental attitudes and ecological behaviours; and puts it forward as a focus for all education, and moving away from its current status as an assumed by-product of outdoor learning, starting with early childhood and spanning across to higher education. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory but also drawing upon research from developmental and environmental psychology, it further proposes a research-informed framework that could be used to enhance nature connection. Finally, it uses research to make meaningful links between theory and practice, in the pursuit of creating a more meaningful relationship with the non-human natural world.
 
“She's Only Two”: Parents and Educators as Gatekeepers of Children's Opportunities for Nature-Based Risky Play
L McFarland, SG Laird – Chapter in Research Handbook on Childhoodnature
This Chapter takes an ecological systems and cross-cultural approach to discuss the role that nature-based risky play has in children’s exploration of the natural world, its importance in quality early childhood education, and its benefits. The authors draw on studies of parents and early childhood educators from Australia and the United States to explore perspectives and practices related to the provision of opportunities for children to engage in nature-based risky play. Beyond the typical discussion of implications for research and practice, further insights are given for parents and educators alike on the ways in which outdoor risky play can be promoted, with a focus on connecting children with the natural environment.
 
The lasting impacts of outdoor adventure residential experiences on young people
H Prince - Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning
Evidence from four retrospective empirical research studies on lasting impacts (> 12 months) of outdoor residential experiences for young people in the UK since 2015 are examined through a form of systematic review of papers and datasets. Thematic and comparative analysis identified lasting impacts as: self-confidence, independence and communication. Respondents also identified confidence, teamwork, life skills, intra-personal skills and the take up of new opportunities/activities as the impacts of use in young people’s lives since their residential experience.  A steps of change process within a theory of change model is used to examine the causal chains and attributes influencing outcomes. 
 
Relationships between learning environments and self-efficacy in primary schools and differing perceptions of at-risk students
S Galos, JM Aldridge - Learning Environments Research
Students who are considered to be at-risk of academic failure are more likely to experience a range of serious outcomes both at school and later in life. The aims of the study were two-fold. First, to better understand how educators might support students considered to be at-risk, we examined whether they perceived their learning environment and self-efficacy differently from their counterparts. Second, to provide insight into how teachers can improve their students’ self-efficacy, we investigated relationships between students’ perceptions of classroom environment and their self-efficacy.
 
Nature exposure and positive body image:(Re-) examining the mediating roles of connectedness to nature and trait mindfulness
V Swami, D Barron, J Todd, G Horne, A Furnham - Body Image
Greater nature exposure was significantly associated with higher body appreciation
Connectedness to nature (CtN) mediated the direct association
Evidence of a serial mediation, first with mindful awareness and second by CtN, was also obtained
 

RESOURCES & BLOGS
 
A new website promoting outdoor activities, spaces and initiatives has been launched by the Highland Green Health Partnership.
It aims to motivate and support people in the Highlands to go outdoors and take small steps towards improving their mental and physical health. It has been created to allow users to easily search and source a range of activities, including finding walking paths and green spaces within their area. It also highlights local groups, green health events and initiatives that may be taking place locally
 
The Office for National Statistics has published indicators from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey on Coronavirus and the social impacts on Great Britain
 
COVID-19: guidance for the public on mental health and wellbeing
Public Health England Guidance
 
Blog by Sophie Yeo on taking part in the Nature Up Close and Personal study
 

SURVEYS
 
Take part here - Nature Up Close and Personal: A Wellbeing Experiment
Nature Up Close and Personal is a NERC funded project with UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, University of Derby and the British Science Association.

 
 
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