The health benefits of feeling connected to nature are now well established irrespective of the type of natural environment and and across cultures. Enhancing feelings of connection to nature enhances health and address inequalities in a culturally sensitive manner and provide a medium to enhance the health and wellbeing of rural and regional communities in a sustainable manner that also meets the aims of the UN sustainable development goals (goal 3). However, research is demonstrating that facilitating a sense of connection to nature is more than just opportunities for contact with nature, the nature of the contact is fundamental. In other words, maximising health benefits is about designing meaningful moments in nature not just minutes. Nature connectedness is emerging as a reliable mediator for increases in mental health, pro-social and pro-environmental behaviour.

However, while new initiatives are being continuously commissioned, designed, redesigned, delivered and evaluated, these are often with little reference to theoretical or empirical evidence available, meaning the evidence base is not being exploited to its full potential. The Snowy wellness trails are a nature prescription program that invites to walk in outdoors but also to absorb the multisensory details of nature to increase their level of connectedness. Thereby transforming a minute in nature into a meaningful moment with nature, enabling individuals to access an increased range health benefits over outdoor exercise alone.

This presentation provides an overview of NatureFix’s scientific research into the principles of nature connection and practical applications working with NSW Health. Using case studies of the Snowy valley wellness trails, this presentation provides a strategy of approach that can overcome some of the scalability and implementation issues with nature prescriptions. This presentation provides an exemplar for how to design and deliver evidenced based nature connection programs in rural and regional area through nature trails.

The health benefits of feeling connected to nature are now well established irrespective of the type of natural environment and and across cultures. Enhancing feelings of connection to nature enhances health and address inequalities in a culturally sensitive manner and provide a medium to enhance the health and wellbeing of rural and regional communities in a sustainable manner that also meets the aims of the UN sustainable development goals (goal 3). However, research is demonstrating that facilitating a sense of connection to nature is more than just opportunities for contact with nature, the nature of the contact is fundamental. In other words, maximising health benefits is about designing meaningful moments in nature not just minutes. Nature connectedness is emerging as a reliable mediator for increases in mental health, pro-social and pro-environmental behaviour.

However, while new initiatives are being continuously commissioned, designed, redesigned, delivered and evaluated, these are often with little reference to theoretical or empirical evidence available, meaning the evidence base is not being exploited to its full potential. The Snowy wellness trails are a nature prescription program that invites to walk in outdoors but also to absorb the multisensory details of nature to increase their level of connectedness. Thereby transforming a minute in nature into a meaningful moment with nature, enabling individuals to access an increased range health benefits over outdoor exercise alone.

This presentation provides an overview of NatureFix’s scientific research into the principles of nature connection and practical applications working with NSW Health. Using case studies of the Snowy valley wellness trails, this presentation provides a strategy of approach that can overcome some of the scalability and implementation issues with nature prescriptions. This presentation provides an exemplar for how to design and deliver evidenced based nature connection programs in rural and regional area through nature trails.

The health benefits of feeling connected to nature are now well established irrespective of the type of natural environment and and across cultures. Enhancing feelings of connection to nature enhances health and address inequalities in a culturally sensitive manner and provide a medium to enhance the health and wellbeing of rural and regional communities in a sustainable manner that also meets the aims of the UN sustainable development goals (goal 3). However, research is demonstrating that facilitating a sense of connection to nature is more than just opportunities for contact with nature, the nature of the contact is fundamental. In other words, maximising health benefits is about designing meaningful moments in nature not just minutes. Nature connectedness is emerging as a reliable mediator for increases in mental health, pro-social and pro-environmental behaviour.

However, while new initiatives are being continuously commissioned, designed, redesigned, delivered and evaluated, these are often with little reference to theoretical or empirical evidence available, meaning the evidence base is not being exploited to its full potential. The Snowy wellness trails are a nature prescription program that invites to walk in outdoors but also to absorb the multisensory details of nature to increase their level of connectedness. Thereby transforming a minute in nature into a meaningful moment with nature, enabling individuals to access an increased range health benefits over outdoor exercise alone.

This presentation provides an overview of NatureFix’s scientific research into the principles of nature connection and practical applications working with NSW Health. Using case studies of the Snowy valley wellness trails, this presentation provides a strategy of approach that can overcome some of the scalability and implementation issues with nature prescriptions. This presentation provides an exemplar for how to design and deliver evidenced based nature connection programs in rural and regional area through nature trails.

This presentation provides an overview of NatureFix’s scientific research into the principles of nature connection and practical applications working with NSW Health. Using case studies of the Snowy valley wellness trails, this presentation provides a strategy of approach that can overcome some of the scalability and implementation issues with nature prescriptions. This presentation provides an exemplar for how to design and deliver evidenced based nature connection programs in rural and regional area through nature trails.