COVID 19 - Does nature-based citizen science enhance well-being and mitigate negative effects of social isolation?
Lead Research Organisation:
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Department Name: Biodiversity (Wallingford)
Abstract
There is concern about the negative impacts of COVID-19 movement restrictions and social
distancing on people's wellbeing and mental health. Engaging with nature is known to positively
impact upon people's wellbeing and this has been promoted by many organisations. Evidence of
the benefits of nature-based activities on wellbeing has come from 'noticing nature' activities
where people pause and enjoy nature, sometimes with a creative response (e.g. writing or
drawing). Nature-based citizen science is another way of connecting with nature and has the
added value of collaboration and having a specific purpose, but its benefits have not so far been
evaluated. We will undertake a large-scale randomised trial of the impact of citizen science and/or
'noticing nature' activities on people's nature connectedness and wellbeing, promoted through
broadcast, print and social media. The outcome will be evidence-based recommendations on the
use and design of nature-based citizen science to mitigate the negative effects of social isolation
during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.
distancing on people's wellbeing and mental health. Engaging with nature is known to positively
impact upon people's wellbeing and this has been promoted by many organisations. Evidence of
the benefits of nature-based activities on wellbeing has come from 'noticing nature' activities
where people pause and enjoy nature, sometimes with a creative response (e.g. writing or
drawing). Nature-based citizen science is another way of connecting with nature and has the
added value of collaboration and having a specific purpose, but its benefits have not so far been
evaluated. We will undertake a large-scale randomised trial of the impact of citizen science and/or
'noticing nature' activities on people's nature connectedness and wellbeing, promoted through
broadcast, print and social media. The outcome will be evidence-based recommendations on the
use and design of nature-based citizen science to mitigate the negative effects of social isolation
during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.
Publications
Pocock M
(2023)
The benefits of citizen science and nature-noticing activities for well-being, nature connectedness and pro-nature conservation behaviours
in People and Nature
| Title | Nature Up Close & Personal film |
| Description | Film to promote a citizen science project on nature and wellbeing. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | 1400 views and supported the recruitment of 1600 people to the citizen science project. |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW_Y99jYo4c |
| Title | iRecord Butterflies app |
| Description | A short film to promote citizen science recording of butterflies. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | Over 800 views so far. Use by partner on their website to promote citizen science |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuJc721MxzM&t=3s |
| Description | We found that nature-based engagement, including through citizen science, has a positive impact on wellbeing, nature connectedness and pro-environmental behaviour. This discovery was made through a citizen science project involving 1600 people, recruited from the general public, who took part during a period of covid-19 restrictions. The findings were made via a large scale, replicated randomised trial with citizen science - this is the first time the impact of nature-based citizen science has been tested at such a large scale via a randomised trial. |
| Exploitation Route | This could be used to influence government bodies such as Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Natural England to support their use of citizen science for both data collection and enhancing nature connectedness and pro-environmental behaviour. |
| Sectors | Environment |
| URL | https://www.ceh.ac.uk/nature-up-close |
| Description | Designed for connection: How Pathways-Informed Citizen Science is impacted by environmental quality to enhance nature connectedness, wellbeing and environmental monitoring in urban areas |
| Amount | £44,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Lancaster University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2022 |
| End | 11/2022 |
| Title | Survey data on wellbeing and nature connectedness before and after taking part in nature-based activities in 2020, UK |
| Description | Surveys of wellbeing, nature connectedness and pro-nature conservation behaviour scores from adult human participants before and after taking part in nature-based activities, including citizen science, in 2020 are presented. Participants were recruited via a public campaign and were randomly allocated into groups: citizen science, noticing nature (three good things in nature activity), combined citizen science and three good things in nature, and a wait list control. They were invited to take part in activities up to five times in the following eight days. Online surveys of wellbeing and nature connectedness were undertaken at people's sign up to the project and after the eight days of activities. Demographic characteristics and people's engagement with the project and responses to the pathways to nature connectedness were recorded after the eight days of activities. The research was carried out to investigate concern about the negative impacts of COVID-19 movement restrictions and social distancing on people's wellbeing and mental health. Research was funded through NERC grant NE/V009656/1 - COVID 19 - Does nature-based citizen science enhance well-being and mitigate negative effects of social isolation? |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Used in publication: Pocock, M. J. O., Hamlin, I., Christelow, J., Passmore, H.-A., & Richardson, M. (2023). The benefits of citizen science and nature-noticing activities for well-being, nature connectedness and pro-nature conservation behaviours. People and Nature, 00, 1- 16. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10432 |
| URL | https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/id/56d4b055-c66b-42b9-8962-a47dfcf3b8b0 |
| Description | British Science Association partnership |
| Organisation | British Science Association |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Establishing partnership at beginning of grant. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Added value to the reach of the citizen science project through social media and media promotion |
| Impact | 1600 people signing up to a citizen science project. Promotion in the press about the value of engagement with nature to wellbeing. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Nature Up Close citizen science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 1295 people took part in a citizen science project, 501 filled in post survey responses indicating how nature-based citizen science had affected their wellbeing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.ceh.ac.uk/nature-up-close |
| Description | Nature Up Close media |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Raising profile of a citizen science project. Overall, we achieved 52 pieces of coverage (1 national) across national and regional print, broadcast and online. Sum of known circulation figures was 1.5 million. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.ceh.ac.uk/nature-up-close |
| Description | Nature Up Close social media |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Over the 6 week period of the citizen science project the hashtag #CloseToNature accrued 979,000 impressions. Tweets from official accounts about the project accrued 256,000 impressions and 4655 engagements. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.ceh.ac.uk/nature-up-close |