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Muddy Faces

Nature connection & nature deficit

A comprehensive reference section on Nature Deficit Disorder and the importance of nature connection - one of the key components of Forest School - with research & reports, guides & articles, video and more.

Articles from Muddy Faces at the top, followed by reports, research and editorial from outdoor practitioners and nature connection experts.

Research, reports, news items etc, are, as much as possible, arranged in chronological order, most recent at the top

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Articles from Muddy Faces

These articles first appeared in the Outdoor Practitioner magazine.

Nature Connection deepen OP3 p3

7 ways to deepen your connection with nature

7 ways to deepen your connection with nature Muddy Faces OP3

pdf, 286.51 KB

The Healing Power of Gratitude

Forest School practitioner & trainer Louise Ambrose reflects on thankfulness & nature connection and offers 5 tips for sharing gratitude practices with children.

The Healing Power of Gratitude

pdf, 500.70 KB

Articles & reports from outdoor practitioners & nature experts

Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv

The book & author that started a movement!
"the first book to bring together a new and growing body of research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of children and adults. More than just raising an alarm, Louv offers practical solutions and simple ways to heal the broken bond - and many are right in our own backyard."

new edition reflects the enormous changes that have taken place since the book was originally published. 2008. Available from Muddy Faces:

Last Child in the Woods - Richard Louv

£12.99 exVAT

Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder has spurred a national dialogue among educators, health professionals, parents, developers and conservationists. This is a book that will change the way you think about your future and the ...


Buy now

Childhood nature connection and constructive hope: a review of research on connecting with nature and coping with environmental loss

Review of literature on young people's connectedness with nature and how it relates to their well-being and stewardship
behaviour; research on how young people cope with information about large-scale environmental problems; and practices to sustain hope.
Louise Chawla in People and Nature, 13 June 2020. Click below to download pdf

Chawla People and Nature 2020 Childhood nature connection and constructive hope A review of research on connecting

pdf, 1.94 MB

See also

Connecting to nature

Links to organisations & projects whose ethos is about getting children and families outside and connecting with nature.

Read More about Connecting to nature

Benefits of Forest School

Forest School benefits children from Early Years & Primary right up to adulthood. But what actually is the impact of regular child-led outdoor play and learning & spending time in nature?

The benefits are many and far-reaching, but also difficult to measure. Below we list some, but by no means all, of the benefits of Forest School on various aspects of a person’s life or development.

Scroll down to find out more about evaluating work outdoors.

Read More about Benefits of Forest School

Research, reports: health, wellbeing

Evidence for the benefits to children of outdoor play and learning & spending time in nature.

Arranged in chronological order, most recent at the top

Read More about Research, reports: health, wellbeing
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