Why?

because bums and poos and wees can’t save us. The natural environment is in trouble. The last 50 years have seen people spending more time in cities and built-up areas. There is an idea that it is no longer relevant to our lives, we ignore and neglect it. In fact it is even more important than ever! It is still responsible for the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. We need it, and it needs us.

It is proven that spending time in nature can have a positive effect on mood and concentration, especially when the time is spent mindfully. Mindfulness is simply being ‘in the moment’- noticing your surrounds and allowing experiences to happen. It doesn’t need special training or practice, it is just being aware of what is going on around you.

What are our aims?

Our aim is to increase love for nature using micro-interactions with everyday nature. These are short, simple activities that you can do anywhere or any time.

When you spend time noticing nature, you become aware of the connectedness of all our lives. You start to see the beauty in the common creatures in the city, and enjoy their presence. We hope that you might start wanting to protect and care for them.

What you need to do.

You don’t have to do much. Just take a few minutes every day to notice the nature around you. This could mean enjoying scenery from the bus, or listening to birds sing from your dorm window. You could feel the bark of an old tree, and imagine it as a seedling. You could take a moment to smell the autumn air, collect a rainbow of fallen leaves. Appreciating nature isn’t an arduous task, it is one of the simplest and deepest pleasures in life. It costs nothing, and brings so much in return. Sign up to the In Our Nature calendar and try it this term.