Reconnecting people with Nature

Do you find nature in urban cities, or does it just belong to the forests or oceans?

From the sapling growing amidst the cracks of the building to the hard working ants found on the ground, we all hear different calls of birds and insects in our neighbourhood.

Let’s dive in deeper while we explore our relation with nature.

In today’s technological era, we all stand and pose for a photo/ selfie if we see the blooming flowers or the waves crashing to the shore, because it’s necessary to keep our social accounts updated. But do we take a moment to observe the butterflies and bees hovering over the flowers or just bother to bend and observe the marine life on the shores? Can we name the trees on the walkway which provide us with shade and the birds that stay near us, apart from the crows and pigeons?

Most of us can’t, and if we trace back the cause we will reach the conclusion of how our busy schedules leave no time for us to connect with nature. Nature reminds us that we are a small part of something vast, complex, ever-evolving and infinitely precious.

Nevertheless, I’m sure, after you finish reading this, you will take some time for yourself to reconnect with nature with our 5 senses.

Step 1: Keep your phones away from you and carry a notebook and pen if you wish.

Step 2: Go to a nearby garden, beach, river or your window if you can see trees.

Step 3: Find a comfortable spot and sit. (Whatever you prefer)

Step 4: Time to experience nature one by one through our senses.

You may record your experience in a book.

a. Sound: Close your eyes and hear all the sounds you can hear.

i. How many different types of bird song can you hear?

ii. What other animals do you hear?

iii. What do you hear when you walk over leaves on the walkway? (Open your eyes here)

From the different sounds of birds chirping to the insects buzzing or might as well the horns from vehicles in the nearby road.

Try to remember the sounds and identify those you can. With time record them and try to identify different birds by calls. Read up and watch videos while you learn this.

b. The Smell:

While you take a stroll, crush leaves in your hand to see if they smell. (be careful of toxic plants) Find any flowers, leaves and smell it. Remember the smell from mud when water falls on it? Rejoice the time while you experience all of this.

c. The touch sensation:

While you sit in a park, feel the breeze and mud and if you are walking near the waterbody, feel the sand and water around you. Try to identify the leaves and flowers near by the sensation of touch. Touch the bark of different trees and compare how they feel.

d. The Taste buds:

Now this is a tricky one, so don’t taste anything without knowledge as it might be harmful or toxic. As a beginner, try different fruits, herbs, dry fruits and raw vegetables available. Meanwhile, also do a bit of homework and learn to identify edible plants. There is plenty of information available in books and the internet.

e. The Vision

As you walk, allow yourself to broaden your vision. Look for different types of mushrooms and fungi, creativity of trees with their leaf color and varieties, or the different wildlife that may scuttle past your feet. See the variety of flowers and different types of birds in the vicinity.

Step 5: Eventually learn how to identify all of them and you will observe that the nature around you is abundant, which you just need to recognize.

Step 6: Now don’t stop with 1 visit, go out more often, begin with exploring more places in your vicinity and slowly other places too. Encourage more and more people to go out ‘Reconnect with Our Home: Nature’.

Throughout this whole journey, you will experience yourself talking to nature and it talking back to you. It’s a feeling to be cherished and not something that can be put in words.

Write back to us and share your experiences as you connect with nature.

Prakriti Bagdi,

Programme Assistant.