We Are Nature by Katie Reed (Outdoor Answer)
A guest post for World Environment Day
Welcome to the first in a series of guest posts I’ll be sharing throughout June. Find out more about Katie Reed of Outdoor Answer, who wrote this article, at the end of this post.
We are nature; it is a part of us.
But somehow, we have lost the rhythm, the beat and the flow of nature.
We have become mechanised, our focus has turned to productivity and we only see nature in terms of its economic impact. What can grow the biggest, the quickest, the juiciest?
We have lost the cycles that nature thrives on. That we thrive on.
Nature needs time to grow, to heal, to renew. Some land needs fallow periods. Some species need to hibernate. And we need to find and follow our own flow.
The author Richard Louv (2005) believes humans are suffering from a ‘nature-deficit disorder’. He argues there is a great human cost to our alienation from nature. The damage we are doing to the ecosystem of the Earth, we are also doing to ourselves.
Something needs to change; our disconnection from nature is making us ill.
Nature is not an exotic destination, somewhere to visit only occasionally. It is right here. To connect with nature, start exactly where you are.
Allow emotions to guide your exploration, not facts and figures. You do not need to know the Latin names to be curious about fauna and flora.
The natural world is in our neighbourhoods, our gardens, our streets, if only we go out and meet it. If only we open our windows and feel the breeze on our skin, notice the flowers growing through the cracks, watch the bees and feed the birds. That way we will be more likely to notice when they don’t return.
We can not save things we never knew existed.
Tune in to nature and do things outside you would normally do inside. If you can, take your first drink of the day outside, walk with friends, gaze at the stars. Make plans around the seasons, the tides, the equinox.
Notice the pauses when nature rests, preparing to thrive and be bountiful again. Do the same.
The seasonal cycle is largely constant and reliable, in contrast to the ups and downs of human life, it can be planned for, looked forward to and expected. Leaves will fall, blossom will grow and fruit will ripen. Enjoy traditions and celebrate the changing seasons.
Embrace nature, for it is within us.
About Katie Reed (Outdoor Answer)
This article was written by Katie Reed, an enthusiastic and passionate advocate for the benefits of nature and the outdoors for all. She is a qualified Forest School Leader and runs sessions within schools and at venues across the Midlands. Follow Katie on Instagram at @OutdoorAnswersUK for nature-based ideas and inspirations to embrace nature.
Today is World Environment Day, perhaps a good time to take action and ask yourself how you can help the planet and the wildlife we share it with.
Here are some simple ideas:
Plant some native, pollinator-friendly plants or seeds
Feed the birds who visit your home
If you have a lawn, let a section of it grow for insects
Email your MP to see what they are doing for your local environment (or question them on something specific, like letting grass verges grow where you live or not using pesticides)
Cut down on the plastic you bring into your home and throw away - look into zero waste alternatives, Terracycle, making your own cleaning products or joining in with Plastic Free July
Talk to a neighbour about nature-friendly gardening
Reduce air miles and buy local, where possible
If you’re a meat eater and are able to, think about how to reduce your consumption of meat
If it’s easier and affordable for you, look into local veg box schemes or Oddbox, who save food from going to waste (use the link to get £10 off your first order)
Next time you need something for your home or wardrobe, consider buying second hand (or, even better, fixing and using something you already own)
Join a protest or offer to help groups like Green New Deal Rising
If you are able, consider walking or cycling (or using public transport) on a journey you’d usually drive
Find people who live nearby who also have a passion for nature. How can you collectively take action to care for your local biodiversity? Perhaps you can volunteer for a local charity, green space or community group
Talk to your employers or colleagues about how you can do more for the environment at work
Join in with some citizen science projects
Learn more about the climate crisis and help educate others
Donate to charities who are helping the environment
Of course, not all of us will be able to do all of the above, and we need to be putting pressure on the politicians and corporations who can make real change happen. But it’s important to remember that collectively, we are powerful and we can make a difference.
Become a guest writer
If you’d like to become a guest writer for Nature Notice Board, just reply to this email and let Zabby know what you’re keen to write about!
 | A guest post by
|
I agree totally with what Katie refers to as Nature deficit disorder. I would like to add another affecting a lot of homeowners and many farmers and that is Ecological Tidiness Disorder.