People’s Engagement with Nature, Particularly Woodlands, During the Covid Pandemic.

People’s Engagement with Nature, Particularly Woodlands, During the Covid Pandemic.

Presented by Dr Liz O’Brien.

Hosted by Dr Bianca Ambrose-Oji.

Please register to attend this online seminar by Wednesday 6 April 2022. Joining details will be emailed to you the day before the event.

What will the seminar cover?

This seminar will draw on two surveys undertaken by Forest Research in 2020 and 2021, as well as interviews, and a collaboration between Forest Research, Natural England, Environment Agency, and NatureScot that brought together surveys and case studies from the different organisations. The research explored how people were engaging with nature during the Covid-19 pandemic and through the various restrictions and lockdowns people faced.

Overall there has been a polarised picture of experience with some people engaging much more with nature and woodlands while others were less able to do so. The work highlights issues of inequality and concerns people had about accessing nature and what they felt they were allowed to do during the various restrictions.  For those who have been able to engage with nature there have been many positive and sometimes profound experiences of how nature has supported people’s wellbeing through very difficult times.

Who is the seminar for?

This seminar is aimed at practitioners and decision makers with an interest in forests and trees.

Additional information

To register for this seminar you will be required to agree to us holding the personal information you provide for the purposes of this seminar for a period of up to 14 days after the date of the seminar.  You can read the Forestry Commission’s personal information charter on gov.uk

A recording of the seminar will be placed on the Forest Research Vimeo channel.