Blog

10th May, 2021

What is nature for? Children’s perspectives in Mental Health Awareness Week

In our Eco-capabilities study, artists, teachers, and more than a hundred children have come together to collaboratively explore natural and outdoors spaces through the arts. Throughout the course of eight weeks, children are being invited to reflect on what is important to them for living a good life through environmental sustainability, social justice and future economic wellbeing (what we term eco-capabilities).

The benefits of being in green spaces, such as positive impact on happiness, vitality, life satisfaction and stress relief, have been demonstrated through a rapidly growing body of research.

Nature as a space for calmness and admiration. The most striking observation was how children perceive nature as a safe space for relaxation and calmness.

Nature as home for people and animals. Children also acknowledged that nature is fundamental to their own existence.

Nature for imagination and discovery. Children found that nature is there to allow them to be adventurous, creative and to become explorers.

Zoe Moula, Nicola Walshe and Elsa Lee

8th August, 2020

Art in nature: a case for supporting children’s wellbeing in the context of Covid-19?