Mostofusspendourlivesseekingthenaturalworld.Tothisend,wewalkthedog,playgolf,gofishing,sitinthegarden,drinkoutsideratherthaninsidethepub,haveapicnic,liveinthesuburbs,gototheseaside,buyaweekendplacein

　　Mostofusspendourlivesseekingthenaturalworld.Tothisend,wewalkthedog,playgolf,gofishing,sitinthegarden,drinkoutsideratherthaninsidethepub,haveapicnic,liveinthesuburbs,gototheseaside,buyaweekendplaceinthecountry.ThemostpopularfreetimeactivityinBritainisgoingforawalk.Andwhenjoggers(慢跑者)jog,theydon’trunthestreets.Everyoneofthemautomaticallyheadstotheparkortheriver.Itismyfirmbeliefthatnotonlydoweallneednature,butweallseeknature,whetherweknowwearedoingsoornot.

　　Butdespitethis,ourchildrenaregrowingupnature-deprived(丧失).Ispentmyboyhoodclimbingtrees.Thesedays,childrenarerobbedoftheseancientfreedoms,duetoproblemslikecrime,traffic,thelossoftheopenspacesandstrangenewideasaboutwhatisbestforchildren,thatistosay,thingsthatcanbebought,ratherthanthingsthatcanbefound.

　　Thetruthistobefoundelsewhere.AstudyintheUS:familieshadmovedtobetterhousingandthechildrenwereassessedforADHD(多动症).Thosewhosehousinghadmorenaturalviewsshowedanimprovementof19%;thosewhohadthesameimprovementinmaterialsurroundingsbutnoniceviewimprovedjust4%.

　　AstudyinSwedenindicatedthatkindergartenchildrenwhocouldplayinanaturalenvironmenthadlessillnessandgreaterphysicalabilitythanchildrenusedonlytoanormalplayground.AUSstudysuggestedthatwhenaschoolgavechildrenaccesstoanaturalenvironment,theentireschoolwoulddobetterinstudies.

　　Anotherstudyfoundthatchildrenplaydifferentlyinanaturalenvironment.Inplaygrounds,childrencreateahierarchy(等级)basedonphysicalabilities,withthetoughonestakingthelead.Butwhenagrassyareawasplantedwithbushes,thechildrengotmuchmoreintofantasyplay,andthesocialhierarchywasnowbasedonimaginationandcreativity.

　　Mostbullying(恃强凌弱)isfoundinschoolswherethereisatarmac(柏油碎石)playground;theleastbullyingisinanaturalareathatthechildrenareencouragedtoexplore.ThisremindsmeunpleasantlyofSunnyhillSchool,withitshardtarmac,whereIusedtohangaboutincornersdreamingaboutwildlife.

　　Butchildrenarefrequentlydiscouragedfrominvolvementwithnaturalspaces,forhealthandsafetyreasons,forfearthattheymightg