Age and connection to nature: when is engagement critical?

Conservation organisations are increasingly aware of the need to connect people with nature to motivate behaviour. However, to maximise effectiveness from the limited resources available, organisations need to understand variability in connection to nature. This research examines connection to nature of people aged 5 to 75 years, using two popular measures, in a cross-sectional UK sample. The hypothesis was that there would be clear, age-related patterns in connection, with specific breakpoints associated with differences in feelings of connection. Data were collected across a variety of locations. Generalised Additive Models found similar age-related patterns from 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 to the end of the lifetime. Both measures also showed females generally had higher connection scores than males. Implications for conservation are discussed.