On Friday 16 May, SWT was delighted to host Dr Matteo Giusti, Researcher in Sustainability Science at University of Surrey’s Institute for Sustainability, for the public launch of an important new document, Be Nature: a guide to growing relationships with nature.

Authored by Dr Giusti and the SWT education team’s Louise Shorthose and Kirsty Porter, Be Nature sets out a clear journey that we all must take if we are to successfully overcome the climate and nature crisis. In short, we must restore nature and the species and processes it supports to the centre of our day-to-day lives and culture. We must live and behave not as superior beings distinct from the rest of our planet, but as an integral and respectful part of the natural world.

Be Nature sets out a clear pathway of milestones that people of all ages, including teachers and course leaders, can take or promote on the journey to building a closer emotional and practical relationship with our environment: being in nature (experiencing the natural world); being with nature (becoming closely acquainted with plants, animals and natural processes) being for nature (advocating for and implementing steps to protect and support wildlife and wild places) and finally being as nature (experiencing an acting on a deep sense of interconnectedness with all living beings and ecosystems, as some indigenous cultures do).

Attendees at the launch, representing a range of conservation and sustainability organisations, enjoyed an engaging presentation from Dr Giusti before undertaking a tour of Nower Wood led by Louise and Kirsty where they experienced a range of ‘back to nature’ activities designed to evoke a sense of comfort in and curiosity about the natural world. Attendees enjoyed everything from identifying shapes and textures in plants to pond dipping and writing to their favourite woodland tree. 

During his presentation, Dr Giusti made the pertinent comment that humanity and all life essentially lives on, and is part of, a mouldy rock in space – and that unless we retain humility about our own status and appreciate the complete inter-dependence of all life on Earth, we will fail to prosper.

Physical copies of Be Nature are available, but why not download an electronic copy for free: HERE