Imagining a Nature Connected Future in Derby
Nature Connected Policy and Practice with Derby University at Silk Mill
In light of the UN’s recent research titled, ‘Exiting the Anthropocene? Exploring fundamental change in our relationship with nature’, many major institutions are taking action to cultivate a new nature connection. As part of this, The University of Derby held a Nature Connected Research Group. Its ambition was “to share this research and its application…provide a context for generating the kind of new thinking needed for transforming society’s relationship with nature.”
The event was attended by 45 people from a range of local and national government bodies, NGOs, universities, SME’s and public services representing academic, policy, environmental, legal, education, local government and creative sectors. The event was held at Derby’s Silk Mill - the site of the world’s first factory, a starting point of an industrial relationship with nature based on use and control. This set the scene for change with hope that a new relationship could bloom. The event set out to inform, inspire and imagine this new nature connected future. “Helping people to connect with nature can bring about real change to their lives and the future of the environment.” The event acted as a doorway into nature connection and change.
“Nature connectedness is a psychological and scientific construct that captures our relationship with nature - how we think about, feel about, and experience nature. When we feel very close to nature, we recognise ourselves as part of the natural work, and value our relationship with it.”
To facilitate this new way of thinking, Moral Imaginations’ founder, Phoebe Tickell led the group through an exercise in imagination, to envision a future with nature connection at the heart of policy. Participants were assigned roles such as urban planner, educator, legislator, business owner, farmer, health and wellbeing, voice of nature or voice of future generations. They were then asked to imagine they had been transported to the year 2033 and had been tasked with developing policy. Groups were then invited to create collective visions and manifestos for towns/cities/boroughs/counties and regions.
These visions were then presented and documented by a visual scriber:
A summary of the key vision themes that emerged from the participant groups:
Community Participation and Governance
Shifting our approach to consider nature, communities and future generations in decision making and providing them with a voice.
Sustainable Economy and Natural Credits
Linking nature’s recovery to the prosperity of all by integrating it into a financial system and circular biodiversity economy that rewards actions benefiting nature.
Infrastructure and Land Use
Nature based regeneration, repurposing outdated infrastructure, facilitating people’s engagement with a vibrant natural environment. Implementing commons spaces within new housing development and enabling closer connection to food, natural ingredients and food miles.
Nature Integration into Daily Life and Education
Keeping nature in focus in everyday life. Creating more spaces and places to appreciate and care for nature. Implementing sustainability as an educational goal and a nature-based curriculum in schools, cultivating caring relationships with the natural world.
Social Values and Corporate Responsibility
Collective celebrations of nature and celebrations of culturally diverse nature connections. Corporate stewardship of the environment, moving from punishment for harm done to restoration and repair. Cultivating individual and group action. Prioritising the protection, restoration and repair of nature through legislation. Representation of nature on the board.
Envisioning a new future is the first step on the path to change. Providing a group with the platform to imagine this new future opened up the door to embrace change in a way that worked with and for nature. Through these new imaginings a future emerged with a transformed society and a new system in which nature is placed at the forefront of all decisions, values and actions. Overall, this imagining of a nature-connected society portrays a harmonious coexistence between humans and the natural world. It emphasizes collective responsibility, well-being, and a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of all living beings, reconnecting humans to a vast system. By valuing and nurturing nature, this society paves the way for a sustainable and thriving future for generations to come. This exercise provided one group with the opportunity to imagine such a future. It is Moral Imagination’s vision that all citizens have the same opportunity to envision these futures, further cultivating a shared responsibility for one another and future generations.
Written by Eloise Clarke.