Media
Watch, listen and read about our work supporting people in developing their relationship with nature, the experiences of people of colour in finding space to connect, and the value of nature to health and well-being.
WitC featured in Positive News magazine
Here’s a snippet from the article, published in November 2023, which you can read in full by clicking on the image below:
The team at Forestry England hope the new trails will encourage more people into forests. It particularly wants to attract visits from people of colour and those from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds as research shows they have vastly reduced access to green spaces. Data from the Campaign to Protect Rural England found that just 1% of visitors to national parks in England were from Black, Asian, or Ethnic (BAME) minority backgrounds, in contrast to 14% of the population in England who are BAME.
“When we first started, our presence was seen as troublesome,” says Beth Collier, a psychotherapist and founder of Wild in the City, a group that helps people of colour reconnect with nature. “It raised awareness of the fact that the sector was very white. It raised questions about the environmental sector, particularly around a fear of hostility or racism.”
Statement on systemic and pervasive racism in the environmental field
25 June 2020
An international collective of Black environmental leaders from US, Africa and UK, including Beth Collier – Director of Wild in the City, have published a statement demanding an end to systemic and pervasive racism in the environmental field. Read here
Watch
BBC, Cities; Nature’s New Wild
Wild in the City’s Director, Beth Collier, was featured in the recent BBC series ‘Cities: Nature’s New Wild’. Narrated by Daniel Kaluuya, this three part series explores how wildlife has responded to the spread of human habitats throughout the world, with episodes on Residents, Commuters and Outcasts.
The last 10 minutes of Episode 3, Outcasts, features a section on London becoming a National Park City and the importance of nature to urban resident’s well-being. As well as featuring Beth talking about the importance of a relationship with nature, the script for this section uses her research on the value of nature to human health.
Watch on iplayer
ITV, Lorraine, March for your Mind
We spoke with Lisa Faulkner in one of Croydon’s beautiful valleys to talk about the benefit of hiking for our emotional health, as part of ITV Lorraine’s March for your Mind campaign. Watch the full item here: https://bit.ly/399fIk8
BBC London, Can farm animals improve your mental health?
In this short film, on location at Crystal Palace Park Farm, Beth Collier helps make the case for nature and city farms in supporting our emotional health.
Wild in the City Festival 2019
The Outdoor Office™
The UK in 100 Seconds, film premiere
Watch Beth speaking on the panel discussion ‘Making more room for nature’ at the premier of film ‘UK in 100 Seconds’, narrated by Benjamin Zephaniah, featuring Dan Raven Ellison and filmed by Jack Smith.
Listen
Over the Bridge, podcast, S3-E3
Listen to Over The Bridge @otbpodcastuk podcast ‘Reconnecting with Nature’, with guest Beth Collier; discussing our relationship with nature as black & mixed race people, London becoming a National Park City and more. The conversation is chaired by OTB presenter and WitC trainee Nature Guide, Kwaku.
Colourful Radio
Listen to Beth in discussion with Colourful Radio presenter Jacqueline Malcolm, talking nature, identity and well-being. (October 2017)
Read
Happiful, What is Friluftsliv?
Happiful’s Kathryn Wheeler talks to Beth about Friluftsliv, the benefits of connecting with natural places. Read the full article here.
Croydon’s Wild in the City changing the face of outdoor leadership
In this South West Londoner article, Beths talks about Wild in the City and the great work it does. Read the full article here.
Black Absence in Green Spaces
People of colour in the west spend significantly less time in nature, an absence rooted in traumas of racism and loss. In this article for The Ecologist, Beth summarises her ethnographic research exploring people of colour’s relationship with nature in the UK. Read the full article here.
The race factor in access to green space
In this article for Runnymede Trust’s Race Matters, Beth explores nature-related health disparities for black and minority ethnic people in a time of lockdown. Read the full article here.
Nature Connectors; People of colour in nature
View a multi-media piece documenting our Nature Connector’s course, building bridges back into nature and the oral tradition. See the full piece here.
“Nature Connectors are guiding people in exploring beautiful natural settings in and around London.
Helping Londoners nurture a closer relationship with the natural world and with others: learning woodland living skills, wildlife identification and traditional crafts.”
Metro, Meet the group helping black people reconnect with the natural world
The Metro’s Natalie Morris, wrote a great profile piece about our work creating spaces for people of colour to enjoy nature.
Read the full article here.
Culture of Confinement is a Child Rights Issue
This post first appeared in the London National Park City blog, read the full article here.
The Voice, The Great Outdoors, Beth Collier
This article first appeared in The Voice, read the full text here
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Nurture a closer relationship with the natural world and with others.