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Chris Packham

With our countryside fast vanishing under concrete, there is much we can do to mitigate the loss by placing the natural world at the heart of development and planning. “Housing developments and houses themselves should be designed to provide space for both wildlife and people” – The Wildlife Trusts. But how do we get to this mindset? We were very excited to be joined by Chris Packham, naturalist, television presenter, writer, photographer, conservationist, campaigner and filmmaker. A very much respected presenter of BBC’s BAFTA Award-winning Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch series.

In our discussion, we talk about Biophilic Design and he makes an urgent call about why we need to bring nature into our built environment. “If we are not in contact with nature, how are we ever going to learn to love or recognise its true value.”

We were joined in this podcast by the insightful environmental correspondent Hartley Milner, who right at the start of the podcast asks about the current government legislation, policy change, the new watchdog being set up and how much is government spin. Chris, with his extensive knowledge of ecology, explains that really the governance is not enough, we need a collective sea-change in political attitudes, where those who govern us recognise an urgent need to address these issues. “Does it have to hurt us a lot more before we do anything? We are brilliant at cures, but not so good at prevention, which is an indictment of our collective intelligence that we wait to fall over before we pick ourselves up”.

This is one of the compelling reasons for Biophilic Design implementation. It is an integral part of that prevention I would argue. Surrounding ourselves with nature and patterns of nature, encourages positive memory, association and understanding and appreciation of nature. If we experience it in our everyday built environment we will naturally want to protect the living world we share our planet with, and depend on. “Our planet is on fire,” he says. “One to one contact with nature is essential”.

Chris also gives us ideas on how we can bring nature up close and personal in our own gardens, however small. “You might have a tiny patch of garden, but collectively, they are not. Did you know that all the gardens in the UK add up to an area the size of Suffolk?” Chris says that if we can help enable the individual to make a difference, then communities, then collectively all together, we can make a significant difference enabling us to live and survive more sustainably.

We talk about how we can design and build good quality affordable housing, new developments and communities with nature in mind. “Ask for help, reach out to those ecologists for help, let’s work in partnership. If you have the energy and ambition to build more sustainably and green, don’t just go 60% to make it green, go 100% and make it green and fruitful,” he says.

Wouldn’t it be amazing to see a whole raft of architects, developers, planners and designers who are able to create amazing spaces, offering everyone access to nature, even in intensely urbanised areas, improving health, and air quality, reducing temperature, encouraging biodiversity? We are running out of time. A better way of designing needs to be mandatory.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if every new build had swift bricks (which cost the same as ordinary ones), bat boxes, and fruit trees for instance? I suggest that maybe we need a simple “takeaway kit” for some developers to just plug and play an implementation. We need to build housing that will work today and tomorrow.
 

Chris Packham Interview

Guest on
Happy Healthy Home Show

Like a lot of us in the pandemic Odile Smith was stuck working from home... in Italy .. and we all know how stressful it can be, however we also know from personal experience that some aspects were really positive;  one of this being that we have had more time to understand and feel our space.

Odile works in the home industry and as a sustainable procurement expert she understands that respecting the planet is necessary but it is also beneficial for the well being of us humans.

Odile called me for a chat and I am delighted to have had this conversation …, because as she says everything is  connected and everything matters 

These conversations led to connecting the dots, and this led to a framework, a roadmap.  Understanding where to begin allows us to understand where we want to go and how to get there. Odile told me she was hosting an interview series.

The show is called THE HAPPY HEALTHY HOME SHOW, the secrets of design psychology to unleash our happiness.
Odile has made these conversation into a mini show with over 20 industry experts including academics in neuroscience, design psychology, science & design, biophilic design, light & colour consultants, Fengshui masters, mindfulness teachers, Rock & Crystal specialists, fragrance experts, sustainability manufacturers, communication experts.

This show is for interior designers and home lovers alike looking to understand and create a space of wellness in our homes.
I have the link where you can register here below, you can watch /listen to is anywhere at home in the office or on the go.
I will be there participating in the conversation (going live on 22 May) and listing to the other guests.

See you there.

Happy Healthy Home Show

New - Green Living Podcast, live every Monday

If you caught our first podcast together in November on the JBD you'll know that Alexander Verbeek is an environmentalist, broadcaster and influencer on climate issues. He subsequently asked me to join him on his own new podcast and we are now doing a regular slot once a week where we talk about green issues. 

Callin is a new app where you as a listener can "call in", if you bookmark it, we would love to have you "call in" and speak to us live on the show.

We Broadcast LIVE every Monday at 4pm GMT / 11:00 AM ET / 8:00 AM PT

Will you join us next week?? The URL will change to this: https://www.callin.com/show/the-planet-podcast-YJqgygpvUs from Monday 16th May.

STOP PRESS - Monday 23rd we will be exloring the Best 10 Singles which celebrate nature.... (if you can't find the link message us!)

Green Living Podcast

Want to write for us?

Do you have an article or blog you would like to share on Biophilic Design? Whether it's about planting, air quality, sound, light, senses or anything in between related to the patterns of nature and how they can be used to benefit people and planet.

We will be launching an exiting new development very soon and reaching out for partnerships, so do keep an eye out! We have over 30,000 people who listen to our podcast worldwide. Thank you for being part of our journey.

As we are not-for-profit, we are also looking for aspiring writers who would like to do some ad hoc writing for us to support the Biophilic Design movement :) Get in touch!

Contact us

Coming up...

Podcasts to look out for:

L+ Architects on unusual spaces and Biophilic Magic

Dr Sally Augustin and Maureen Calamia on how Environmental Psychology and FengShui both use Biophilic Design to make homes and offices better spaces to flourish in

Roddy Langmuir of Cullinan Associates on biophilic architecture and sustainable practice

Andrea Harman on Hearing Conservation and Biophilic Design

Ross O'Ceallaigh founder of The Green Urbanist - on why city planning and Biophilic Design need to connect

Jeremy Campbell and Ian Baker from Emcor on how Biophilic Design can support a NetZero Workplace

Steve Melvin from Atelier Architects on weaving nature into our buildings

Anicee Bauer, on helping people fall back in love with Nature and The Human(e) office

Blue Mind - a mixed panel discussion on why patterns of water (real and simulated) are good for us.

Plus many more... including Workplace Design, Architecture... (want to connect with us? Contact us)

Bookmark the podcast page

Biophilic Design and Environmental Science

Explore and learn more about the benefits of this wonderful new design trend, Biophilic Design in this month's issue of The Space Doctors. Learn how to bring nature and nature's patterns into your home, to help you live your best life and be gentle on the planet too. Biophilic Design - it's more than plants!

 
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