IN-PERSON London. Section A

Abstract

Spending time in greenspace is positively associated with nature connectedness and pro-environmental behaviours. This is particularly important, with the ongoing climate crisis and biodiversity loss. A sense of connection to the natural world is influenced by childhood experiences of nature. This is particularly interesting as a university is a transitional stage from childhood to adulthood, hence crucial to developing environmental responsibility. Considering the importance of greenspaces for sustainability, universities can therefore have an important role to play. Students represent the future generation of decision-makers and are at a crucial stage in their lives where their behaviours are shaped. This study, therefore, aims to explore the relationship between use and experience in greenspace, nature connectedness and pro-environmental behaviours in university students. To achieve this, qualitative data will be collected about two British universities (the University of the West of England and the University of Bristol) students’ use and experience of greenspaces, the design of greenspaces, students’ sense of nature connectedness and its effect on their pro-environmental behaviours. Research findings can assist universities and municipal authorities, both hosts to students, in tying education practice and policies to the landscape planning and design of greenspaces that will better attract students to use them, potentially enhancing their nature connectedness and encouraging pro-environmental behaviours.