Age and connection to nature: when is engagement critical?

Conservation organizations are increasingly aware of the need to motivate pro-environmental behavior by connecting people with nature. However, to maximize the effectiveness of the limited resources available, there needs to be a better understanding of the variability in people's connection to nature shown at different ages. We examined connection to nature among people aged 5-75 years, using two popular measures, in a cross-sectional UK sample, based on the hypothesis that there would be clear, age-related patterns in people's connection to nature, with specific breakpoints associated with differences in feelings of connection. Data were collected across a variety of locations. Analysis of generalized additive models revealed similar age-related patterns for both measures, with connection declining from childhood to an overall low in the mid-teens, followed by a rise to the early 20s and reaching a plateau that lasts to the end of the lifetime. Both measures also showed that females generally had higher connection scores than males. These findings have implications for conservation action.