Britain has been named one of the least “nature-connected” countries in the world, ranking 55th out of 61 nations in a new global study examining how people relate to the natural world.
Researchers surveyed 57,000 people and found that Nepal was the most nature-connected nation, followed by Iran, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. At the other end of the scale, Spain, Japan, Israel, Germany, and Canada joined Britain near the bottom.
The study, published in Ambio, found that spirituality and religious belief were the strongest indicators of a close relationship with nature, while highly industrialised, wealthy, and urbanised societies—where internet use and business efficiency are high—tended to feel more detached.
Professor Miles Richardson from the University of Derby, who led the research, said Britain’s low ranking reflected its “rational, economic and scientific” culture. “We’ve lost touch with nature in our highly technological world,” he said. “We need to make nature central to our wellbeing—something respected and almost sacred.”
The researchers suggested boosting nature connection through mental health treatments that use outdoor settings, legal recognition of nature’s rights, and integrating biodiversity goals into business decisions.
Richardson added that urban green spaces alone are not enough: “It’s not just about putting a park in—it’s about creating sacred urban nature that helps people reconnect with the living world.”
