Skip to content

Nature connectedness 

Skip table of contents

What employers can do 

There are lots of simple ways employers can help their teams feel more connected to nature. Even small changes can make a big difference to health and wellbeing.  

If managers can join in with activities and be visible role models, employees are more likely to get involved too. 

Encourage employees to spend time with nature

Let employees know it’s okay to take breaks or have walking meetings outside. Suggest they go for a short walk, sit in a green space, or just take a moment to notice the natural world around them. You could also support staff to get involved in local conservation projects through corporate volunteering days. 

Share local walking routes

Help staff discover nearby nature walks. If there aren’t any close by, look into creating safe walking routes or improving access to green spaces near your workplace. 

Make the workplace nature-friendly

Try to keep real plants, flowers and grassy areas around the building. Avoid cutting the grass too often and bring some greenery indoors too – plants can brighten up any space and can improve the air quality at work. Involve staff in planting and habitat creation days. There are grants available in Wales for creating spaces for nature.  

Include nature in wellbeing plans

Make sure your workplace wellbeing plans talk about the benefits of nature. Nature can help reduce stress, improve mood and support mental health. 

Become a nature-connected organisation

Increase nature connectedness in your workplace with guidancesupport from the Nature Connected Organisations Handbook, from the University of Derby. You can also celebrate events like Earth Day or Wales Nature Week, and use local volunteer networks and grant funded projects to help deliver nature-based activities.  

Encourage active travel

Promoting active travel for commuting to and from work, or for attending meetings offsite, can create opportunities for employees to spend time in green spaces whilst also being active. 

Get support from other services

In Wales there are organisations that can help you and your employees connect with nature. Contact them to find out more about how you could get involved in your local area: 

  • Wales Biodiversity Partnership brings together key players from the public, private and voluntary sectors to promote and monitor biodiversity and ecosystem action in Wales. 
  • RSPB Nature Prescriptions are a creative way for health and associated professionals to talk to people about nature. The idea is to help people feel better by spending more time outdoors and connecting with the natural world. Social prescribing is growing in Wales. 
  • Hapus is a space dedicated to mental wellbeing. Nature is one of their routes to mental wellbeing.   

You can also sign up for the HWW newsletter to stay up to date with tips and support. 

Page last reviewed: 9th July 2025