Nature Connection in the City: Nurturing Mental Well-Being with Urban Green Spaces
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- Start Date: 07 Jun 2025End Date: 07 Jun 2025Sat (Daytime): 11:30 - 13:30In PersonFull fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00
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What is the course about?
Discover how research supports the well-being and mental health benefits of urban nature, then partake in practical exercises to assist in cultivating this sense of connection in our own busy lives, wherever we are in the city.
Delve into the numerous benefits of fostering a deep bond with nature, even in urban areas we might not traditionally conceive of as ‘natural’. Gain insights into the positive impact of urban green spaces on reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, and hear about practical techniques and strategies for integrating nature into your daily urban routines.
We hope participants will leave with a newfound appreciation for the natural world around them and be equipped with some practical tools to nurture their mental well-being through nature connection in the heart of the city.
This workshop will be delivered by Chris Collier, an art historian and cultural theorist, UCU Green Representative, and voluntary ranger with London National Park City.
What will we cover?
• Introduce research supporting the well-being and mental health benefits of nature connection.
• Discover some practical ways this is being applied in urban contexts.
• Sample a few simple techniques you can use in your everyday life, in order to enhance your sense of connection to nature, in support of your well-being.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Recognise some of the established well-being benefits of nature connection.
• Explain why nature and access to green spaces are a crucial component in ensuring the health and well-being of urban communities.
• Apply a few simple techniques to enhance a sense of nature connectedness in your everyday life.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels. You should be able to follow simple verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs. and health and safety information.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught through a mixture of tutor-led and guided, participatory activities in an outdoor setting. This course takes place in an outdoors area of the City Lit building, therefore activities will be weather-dependent and participants should dress in weather appropriate clothing. Tutors are not able to control outdoor sound levels and you will need to be able to walk and stand for some time during the session (you may bring your own portable stool if you have one, but we cannot guarantee access to seating in the space). If you feel you may be impacted by these environmental variations, please inform the department on humanities@citylit.ac.uk before the course begins, to discuss reasonable accommodations we can make to assist your learning.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
The course will involve a short walk, and whilst a small amount of seating will be available we recommend bringing a stool or camping chair if you have difficulty standing for longer periods of time. Depending on the weather, you may want to bring a coat and any other clothing suitable for the weather conditions on the day. .
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
HS215 Exploring Regent's Park's Trees.
Christopher Collier trained as an artist, before gaining an MA in Cultural Studies at Goldsmiths and a PhD in Art History and Theory from the University of Essex. He has taught at institutions including the University of Essex, Cambridge School of Art, and Winchester School of Art, as well as presenting internationally at a range of workshops and conferences, including at the ICA, London and CCA, Glasgow. His broad range of interests includes the intersections of art and the more-than-human world, along with art's relations to wider political economy and cultural theory. He is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.