on This Earth

As part of the blog, I carried out a very small study. The study focused on the impact of practising to build a connection with nature using the three principles

• silence/stillness,
• observation, and
• reflection.

The study ran from end of November 2024 to early January 2025 where people pledged to practise observing nature for 10 minutes daily or for 30 minutes twice weekly. The study covers the following metrics

• nature awareness/connection
• personal well being

Summary of results

Eight people were initially interested and 7 filled the initial survey but only 5 final survey responses came back. Overall, the feedback has been positive with all 5 responding positively to help restore and enhance nature.

Below are the results of the study on the various metrics.

Achieving their objectives:

From the initial survey, all responded with the following objectives.

From the final 5, 60% stated that they had reached their objectives. One of the participants struggled with the practice.

Time in nature:

Of the 7 people who filled the initial survey, 50% spent less than 30 minutes in nature per week. If limited to the 5 final participants, this figure increased to 75%.

When surveyed again in January, all 5 participants indicated that their time in nature has increased over the period.

Furthermore, all indicated that they would like to continue the practice.

Nature Awareness:

Overall, there has been an increase level of nature awareness due to the practice. A few quotes from the final survey:

I have found that by just stopping and listening and pausing on my walks, I feel more connected to nature.

I’ve begun to notice more details that only being still in nature can unravel of the environment around. Patterns where certain directions in space are more conducive to plant growth and harbour life more.

and

More acutely aware even of temperature changes and the amount of natural light that comes in through the windows and the speed of the breeze that comes in through the windows.

Mental, physical, and spiritual well being:

The practice has also benefited in terms of personal well being. A couple of quotes from the final survey on mental well being

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety a number of years ago, and also have ADHD, ASD and C-PTSD so I am always very keen to think more about my general well being and mental health. Making my nature connection more conscious has given me a greater sense of peace and has made me more aware of thinking about the impact of nature on my well being so lots of really positive insights

and

I’ve noticed an effect on my breathing, it being more mindful after sitting still in the fresh air, making me calmer and feeling happier generally. Though i didn’t sit for as long as i would have wanted to due to cold weather conditions but it was definitely exhilarating in the cold and I was happier and more relaxed once i returned home. The natural light was hugely refreshing and when the sun was out, surprisingly warming even at this time of year, if directly facing the sun. Also nice to greet other walkers as they passed by.

On physical well being:

Feel more energetic, breathing better and deeper.

and

I didn’t walk in nature as far as I would have liked due to cold weather but lovely to get outdoors when I could and stretch my legs properly. Strengthen leg muscles by balancing my way through uneven ground in the woods. Felt good to touch the living wood and feel the patterns and bumps which was strangely soothing and then come across the softer lichen growing in branches. The tactile sensation was relaxing. I sketched ‘my’ tree, to enable closer attention to details around me, which made me forget the cold for a while.

And on spiritual well being:

Lots of zikr and azkaar when I am walking or spend time with nature

and

Feel more connected and having more conversations with God. More centred on feeling of gratitude

Outcome of the study

While the sample size of this study is too small for a statistically relevant analysis, anecdotally the participants have benefited from the practice. The study shows that even a short 10 minute daily session being conscious/mindful in nature increase our own well being. It also deepens the nature connection and strengthen the resolve to restore nature. A couple of the action pledges from the participants are as follows:

Help plant trees/charity

and

I’m a member of the Butterfly Conservation Society so I’m going to use some of their ideas to help overwintering butterflies and also to do some volunteer work with them.

I hope that more people will start their own journey to being present in nature through the practice. Thank you.