Noticing, Connecting, and Flourishing: How 'Three Good Things in Nature' Led to a New Model for Wellbeing and Ecological Connection

If you’ve been following me on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook, you’ll have seen my daily practice of Noticing Three Good Things in Nature—a simple ritual of attention that’s opened up space for stillness, wonder, and deeper connection each day. From shimmering frost on cold winter days to the appearance of blackbird fledglings in spring, these small moments have not only lifted my spirits but is a daily reminder of how powerful it is to practice connection with the natural world.

Notice 3 Good Things

In a world where many of us are seeking meaning, balance, and reconnection, this deceptively simple practice has been quietly transforming lives.

What began as a short-term campaign has now evolved into a foundational piece of global nature connection research, influencing wellbeing strategies, environmental education, and mental health practice.

At the heart of this movement is the 5 Pathways to Nature Connection, developed by Professor Miles Richardson and his team at the University of Derby. This research has helped us understand how we connect with nature—not just that we should.

From Three Good Things to Five Powerful Pathways

The “Three Good Things in Nature” campaign was initially created to explore the impacts of simple daily noticing on people’s wellbeing. Participants were invited to write down three positive experiences in nature each day, encouraging reflection, emotional engagement, and sensory awareness.

What emerged was remarkable. Participants reported:

• Improved mood

• Reduced stress

• Increased feelings of connection to the natural world

  
  

This campaign became the seed for a much broader research programme, ultimately leading to the 5 Pathways to Nature Connection—a framework rooted in psychology, ecology, and human experience.

The 5 Pathways to Nature Connection

Richardson’s team identified five core routes through which we build and sustain a meaningful relationship with the natural world:

1. Senses – Engaging our sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste in nature. A sensory doorway into connection.

2. Emotion – Feeling emotionally moved by nature, and allowing joy, awe, or even sadness to arise in response.

3. Beauty – Noticing aesthetic qualities—colour, texture, form and experiencing nature as art.

4. Meaning – Interpreting nature through stories, symbolism, or reflection. This can include writing poetry or drawing parallels between our lives and the natural world.

5. Compassion – Caring for nature and taking action to protect it, inspired by empathy and a sense of kinship.

   
   

Unlike traditional environmental education, which often focuses on knowledge or time spent outdoors, the 5 Pathways offer a more human, holistic, and relational way into connection.

What the Research Says

The evidence supporting the 5 Pathways is growing, and it’s compelling. Key findings include:

• Improved wellbeing: Engagement with the pathways is associated with greater life satisfaction, vitality, and resilience. In fact, nature connection has been found to be a stronger predictor of happiness than socio-economic status (Richardson et al., 2020).

• Pro-environmental behaviours: People who feel connected to nature are more likely to act in ways that protect it—whether through recycling, conservation volunteering, or sustainable choices (Martin et al., 2020).

• Stronger sense of self: Nature-connected individuals report a deeper sense of meaning, belonging, and identity, especially when meaning and emotion pathways are activated (Pritchard et al., 2020).

  
  

Recent longitudinal studies have also shown that practices like Three Good Things in Nature can produce lasting changes in both mental health and environmental concern, even months after the initial intervention (Lumber et al., 2023).

A Practice You Can Begin Today

At its heart, nature connection is a practice—one that doesn't require pristine wilderness or elaborate retreats. It can start right where you are with something as simple as:

Noticing the golden light on leaves

Feeling the breeze on your skin

Listening to birdsong on your morning walk

All of these actions engage the 'senses pathway'. By simply writing these things down and expressing them as a poem can also engage the Meaning pathway, inviting nature into the narrative of your life.

Join Us

Nature Connection doesnt need to be a solitary endeavour, we know that people are more likely to make a practice a habit if they also feel connected to a commuity too, which is why I am so pleased that you are here, and I would like to offer you an invitation to join in. Start by noticing three good things in nature each day. Share them, write about them, or just hold them in your heart.

Then, if you're inspired, let those moments guide a simple nature poem. It doesn’t have to rhyme or follow rules—just let the wild world speak through you. If you feel moved to write then please do share your poems in the comments below.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to join the conversation in the comments below—your questions, stories, and perspectives are always welcome. Whether we agree or not, every discussion adds depth to these conversations, and respectful dialogue is what makes this space truly valuable.

If you enjoyed this post, consider subscribing to The Lucid Hare Blog so you never miss a new piece. And if you know someone who cares about childhood, nature, and play, please share this with them—we grow stronger when we think and learn together. Let’s keep the conversation going!

References

• Richardson, M., Hunt, A., Hinds, J., Bragg, R., Fido, D., Petronzi, D., ... & White, M. (2020). A Measure of Nature Connectedness for Children and Adults: Validation, Performance, and Insights. Sustainability, 11(12), 3250.

• Martin, L., White, M. P., Hunt, A., Richardson, M., Pahl, S., & Burt, J. (2020). Nature contact, nature connectedness and associations with health, wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 68, 101389.

• Pritchard, A., Richardson, M., Sheffield, D., & McEwan, K. (2020). The Relationship Between Nature Connectedness and Eudaimonic Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Happiness Studies, 21, 1145–1167.

• Lumber, R., Richardson, M., & Sheffield, D. (2023). Beyond Knowing Nature: The Impact of Nature Connection Interventions on Wellbeing and Behaviour Over Time. Ecopsychology, 15(2), 128–138.

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