AGrassrootsRemedy

Mostofusspendourlivesseekingthenaturalworld.Tothisendwewalkthedogplaygolfgofishingsitinthegardendrinkoutsideratherthaninsidethepubhaveapicnicliveinthesuburbsgototheseasidebuyaweekendplaceinthecountry.ThemostpopularleisureactivityinBritainisgoingforawalk.Andwhenjoggers(慢跑者)jogtheydon’trunthestreets.Everyoneoftheminstinctivelyheadstotheparkortheriver.Itismyprofoundbeliefthatnotonlydoweallneednaturebutweallseeknaturewhetherweknowwearedoingsoornot.

Butdespitethisourchildrenaregrowingupnature-deprived(丧失).IspentmyboyhoodclimbingtreesonStreathamCommonSouthLondon.Thesedayschildrenarerobbedoftheseancientfreedomsduetoproblemslikecrimetrafficthelossoftheopenspacesandoddnewperceptionsaboutwhatisbestforchildrenthatistosaythingsthatcanbeboughtratherthanthingsthatcanbefound.

Thetruthistobefoundelsewhere.AstudyintheUS:familieshadmovedtobetterhousingandthechildrenwereassessedforADHD—attentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder(多动症).Thosewhoseaccommodationhadmorenaturalviewsshowedanimprovementof19%;thosewhohadthesameimprovementinmaterialsurroundingsbutnoniceviewimprovedjust4%.

AstudyinSwedenindicatedthatkindergartenchildrenwhocouldplayinanaturalenvironmenthadlessillnessandgreaterphysicalabilitythanchildrenusedonlytoanormalplayground.AUSstudysuggestedthatwhenaschoolgavechildrenaccesstoanaturalenvironmentacademiclevelswereraisedacrosstheentireschool.

Anotherstudyfoundthatchildrenplaydifferentlyinanaturalenvironment.Inplaygroundschildrencreateahierarchy(等级)basedonphysicalabilitieswiththetoughonestakingthelead.Butwhenagrassyareawasplantedwithbushesthechildrengotmuchmoreintofantasyplayandthesocialhierarchywasnowbasedonimaginationandcreativity.

Mostbullying(恃强凌弱)isfoundinschoolswherethereisatarmac(柏油碎石)playground;theleastbullyingisinanaturalareathatthechildrenareencouragedtoexplore.ThisremindsmeunpleasantlyofSunnyhillSchoolinStreathamwithitsharshtarmacwhereIusedtohangaboutincornersfantasisingaboutwildlife.

Butc