What Does 'Nature Connection' Mean to You?

Words by Sophie Lawson, Nature Connection and Wellbeing Specialist

At Trash Free Trails, we believe that disconnection is at the heart of not just the pollution problem, but many of the challenges we face today. We believe that reconnection - to nature, to ourselves and each other - can lead to healthier trails and also to happier trail users. So, what do we mean by 'reconnection to nature' and why is it so important?

Are We Separate From Nature?

When you start trying to define 'nature connection' the whole thing starts to unravel very quickly, like when you stare at a night sky and consider that we are all made of billion-year old star dust. When we say 'nature' usually, we mean something green: a garden, a field, a forest. We mean something over there, outside of ourselves: an animal, a plant, a place.

Often, we don’t consider ourselves to be part of nature. Though as I said, we are made of the exact same stardust as everything else: we are wildlife. So, when we say connection to nature we also mean connection to ourselves and to each other. Though to get really pedantic here, 'to connect' means to 'join two or more things': how do you join everything to everything if it is actually all the same thing? 

That’s when my brain starts to explode.

Asking Our Community

To help with this definition dilemma, we decided to ask the experts: you! As part of our Roots to Reconnection project we asked the Trash Free Trails community: what does 'nature connection' mean to you? I also caught up with one of our A-TEAMer’s, Jane, who teaches Outdoor Education to children in Inverness, loves hiking, biking and camping around her local trails and is somewhat of a wizard on all things nature!

The responses were incredibly heartwarming. For some, the answer was straightforward: “Just to enjoy being outside”. The simplicity of appreciating being outside is enough. For others, the connection ran deeper, describing nature as

“the core of our being”, “vital” and “necessary to experience our true selves”. 

Small Moments of Wonder

In her role as a teacher, Jane explains how time in nature can inspire this connection: “it’s really valuable for the kids I work with - I love being able to take them out and just let them experience a bit of wonder, like meet a bumblebee or a spider, and show them the hazelnuts that the squirrels have been nibbling. That feeling of something bigger than yourself - I think is really important”.

Nature has this ability to take us outside of ourselves, to feel less separate and alone, and that can work wonders for our wellbeing. Jane explains:

"It's a massive part of my way of dealing with… life. Getting out in nature really calms me: both the physical activity of it but also the peace and serenity and solitude”.

She’s right: both physical activity and the sights and sounds in nature have been shown to reduce stress levels, soothe our overloaded systems and lead to improved mental wellbeing - but most of us don’t need the scientists to know that! 

Connection Leads to Care

When we don’t feel separate from nature, we tend to take more ownership of our actions towards it. The more connected we feel, the more we care. As Jane explains:

“I feel that because I spend so much time in nature and it gives me benefits, I want to give back… to leave everywhere in a better state so we can all have trash free trails like these ones!”.

Another survey respondent described nature connection as: “valuing nature, big, small, and wanting to protect it as best you can”. Not surprisingly, a high connection to nature is linked to more eco-friendly behaviours like recycling, taking the bus and… picking up trash! Further still, studies have also shown that feeling connected to nature is a major reason people don’t drop trash in the first place. Reconnection takes us to the root of the problem and helps us solve it from the inside out. 

Different Relationships with Nature

Despite all these juicy facts about nature connection, we know this phrase doesn’t vibe for everyone. In our community survey, 25% of people said they weren’t sure if they felt more connected to trails they cleaned vs ones they didn’t. In the comments, one person explained that nature connection was “not my personal choice of phrase” and didn't mean much to them.

Our relationships with our trails and with the more than human world is complex and unique to each of us, and therefore the words we choose to reflect it will be too. 

Roots to Reconnection

This is why we have started the Roots to (Re)connection! To understand this complexity and the ways in which reconnection works for different people. To contribute, you can: 

1. Respond to our mini survey 

2. Complete our experience questionnaire after trail cleaning 

3. Take part in a minutes silence for nature on the Summer Solstice