An alternative seasonal tale Each winter, as the low sun casts its pale light across the sodden landscape, a remarkable phenomenon occurs on the side of our house. The gate latch and picket fencing cast a shadow that transforms into … Continue reading →

Nature Connections 2026 will take place on 16th July in Derby, bringing together researchers and practitioners interested in nature connection to share and discuss the latest research, ideas, and applications. To keep costs down we’ve returned to a single day. … Continue reading →

Understanding how our relationship with nature has changed over time helps identify the forces that have shaped the long‑term decline, and where recovery might come from. Using nature‑related word use in books as a proxy for the human–nature relationship over … Continue reading →

Over the past year I’ve been focussing on the bigger picture of nature connection, what factors explain differences between nations and over 200 years? I looked at long-term trends in a paper in Earth last summer, then differences between nations … Continue reading →

If we want to repair our relationship with nature, we first need to understand the system that has been steadily eroding it – my latest research paper. Responses to declining nature connection often centre on individuals or on providing more … Continue reading →

Discussions of nature connection often begin with access: how much green space people have, how close they live to it, and whether they are urban or rural. Drawing on People and Nature Survey (PANS) data across England, this blog takes … Continue reading →

Nature connectedness is increasingly recognised globally as a strategy for transformative change. At the University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness Research Group, we’re exploring how professionals across sectors—from health and education to urban design and the arts—are helping people build deeper … Continue reading →

In the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, IPBES has called for transformative change—a deep shift in how societies relate to nature. One of the most powerful levers for that change is nature connectedness: the extent to which people … Continue reading →

The Tune into Nature Music Prize is back for 2026. With a first prize of £500, the prize aims to encourage submissions of original music from young musicians aged 18 to 30 that celebrate the human-nature relationship and showcase the inclusion … Continue reading →

Dr Carly Butler & Professor Miles Richardson   Earlier this year, we introduced the idea of ‘heritage connection’ – an individual’s subjective sense of relationship with people, nature and place over time. With the support of University of Derby’s Vice-Chancellor’s … Continue reading →

Back in January, we opened the call for contributions to Nature Connections 2026 on 16th July. Since then, the response has been both heartening and revealing. We were oversubscribed three-fold, pointing toward a field that continues to deepen, diversify, and … Continue reading →