Handbook launched to help communities nurture relationship with nature

A new handbook which explores how community initiatives can nurture the relationship between humans and the natural world has been launched.

The Nature Connected Communities Handbook has been written by Dr Carly Butler and Professor Miles Richardson from the University of Derby and links to their pioneering research on the link between people and nature.

With practical guidance and tips the handbook – which has been funded by the Wates Family Enterprise - is for organisations, collectives, and individuals who want to help grow communities that are better connected with nature.  It also links to online resources and networks that offer support for nature-based community projects. 

Dr Carly Butler, Researcher in Nature Connectedness, said:

“Improving human-nature relationships is at the heart of what we do in the Nature Connectedness Research Group at the University of Derby. Our award-winning research demonstrates how important an individual’s sense of nature connectedness is for their own wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour and has shaped policy and practice both in the UK and internationally.

“We wanted to look at how green community projects can help grow emotional and meaningful relationships with the rest of nature, which is why we have created this handbook.

“A focus on growing nature connectedness at a community level has benefits that go beyond the individual, supporting community wellbeing and larger scale pro-nature values and actions. When communities share a sense of feeling a part of nature, we edge closer to the social tipping points for transformational change in human-nature relationships.

“The recent IPBES Transformative Change report, which was led by Professor Richardson, identified human disconnection from nature as one of the three causes of biodiversity loss, and human-nature relationships as a crucial part of halting and reversing this loss.”

In 2023, the then-government launched 48 local nature recovery strategies across the UK that will establish priorities and map proposals to drive nature's recovery and provide wider environmental benefits.

The Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for Derbyshire is specific to the county of Derbyshire and the city of Derby and will set a long-term plan that is formed and delivered in partnership with a range of organisations as well as local people.

The University of Derby, together with Derbyshire County Council and other partners, recently carried out a survey to help develop the first LNRS for Derbyshire and Derby.

Dr Butler says she hopes that the Nature Connectedness Handbook will be a useful tool in the LNRS and its subsequent implementation. She added:

“The Local Nature Recovery Strategy is an important project which will provide a blueprint for nature recovery and help to prioritise investments and where action should take place.”

Early indications for Derbyshire confirm a strong relationship between the county, city population and nature with 99 percent of the 1,000 survey respondents stating that nature makes them feel happy, and 98 percent stated nature is important for their health and wellbeing.

Dr Butler added:

“I hope that the Nature Connected Communities Handbook is a useful resource to policymakers aiming to improve and enhance across the county and city.”

The Nature Connected Communities Handbook is out now, and is available as a free, downloadable book.

Download here