Human connection to nature has declined 60% in 200 years, study finds

Prof Miles Richardson says people risk extinction of experience' in the natural world without new policies

People's connection to nature has declined by more than 60% since 1800, almost exactly mirroring the disappearance of nature words such as river, moss and blossom from books, according to a study.

Computer modelling predicts that levels of nature connectedness will continue to decline unless there are far-reaching policy and societal changes - with introducing children to nature at a young age and radically greening urban environments the most effective interventions.