Anja Murray: Access to nature should be a right rather than a luxury

Ecologist Anja Murray explains why nature is at the heart of our psychological wellbeing

Gabrielle and Julia O'Connor with their cousin Maggie O'Riordan, Midleton enjoying the sunshine in the wild flowers in the Ballincollig Regional Park last year. Picture: Dan Linehan

There is a perception that ‘nature’ is something to experience when on holidays, in exotic places such as South Africa, Australia, or south-east Asia. In Ireland, there are plenty of places too where we can immerse ourselves in stunning scenery and visit beautiful natural habitats. We have some wonderful national parks that are well worth visiting. Even just being ‘in the country’ can offer sublime wildlife experiences, whether wandering through a small patch of bluebell-filled woodland in spring or admiring the primroses growing in the hedgerows at this of year.

But we rarely think about the significance of nature in our towns and cities. Of course we all know that it’s nice to watch swans on the canal, to see herons perched by urban waterways, to hear birdsong when out for a walk, and see bees and butterflies in parks and gardens. Plenty of us do our bit for pollinators, and are delighted to get a glimpse of an urban fox on city streets after dusk. But there is very little thought given to just how much potential there is to transform urban areas into places where people and nature have at least as much right to space as concrete, tarmac and cars.