Published on 11 March 2025
Blog post by: Jo Garrett, Postdoctoral Researcher
In response to the biodiversity crisis, there are growing efforts in England to restore, expand, and connect natural areas, including in towns and cities. These initiatives are expected to bring significant changes to landscapes and benefit biodiversity. Decision makers need better information on how the changes will be received, as well as how they will influence people’s interactions with, attitudes and behaviours towards nature, and their health, and well-being. This is crucial for ensuring the success of future projects and planning initiatives that meet the needs of both people and nature.
Above: Image credit: Rebecca Lovell
Although there is considerable prior research linking people, and factors such as their health and well-being or environmental attitudes, to their experiences of nature, much of this has been cross-sectional, where individuals are asked questions only once. This has meant that we know very little about how those factors change through time, as a person ages for example, or in relation to a changing environment. Another key gap is understanding people’s responses to the efforts made to tackle the biodiversity crisis. Do they support actions such as stricter regulation of house building to protect nature?
To tackle these research gaps, we developed the Renewing Biodiversity Longitudinal Survey. It is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council and Natural England as part of the RENEW project. As a longitudinal survey, it asks the same people the same questions at multiple points in time, allowing for a more robust understanding of relationships.
Above: Image credit: Rebecca Lovell
The survey includes questions on individual characteristics, such as age and gender. We can use this information to better understand if different groups of people respond differently to change. This will provide information on how to engage with or involve groups in biodiversity renewal. We also ask for people to provide their postcode, this will allow us to link additional data to their survey responses, such as information about the environment where they live.
Above: Mapping behavioural determinants toward human health & wellbeing.
By tracking these factors over time, our survey will provide valuable insights into the evolving relationship between people, nature, and well-being in the context of biodiversity renewal.
The ReBLS project is a positive step towards evidence-based and collaborative working for Natural England. We hope that the project will provide essential development and testing of evaluation methods to inform long-term monitoring of key nature renewal initiatives on the ground.”
