As COVID-19 shut down inessential retail and entertainment venues across the UK, many people channelled their leisure time towards nature – and in varied ways. With lockdowns and social distancing set to persist into 2021, how can brands help facilitate connections with the natural world?

Britons are having a love affair with plants. From terrariums and cacti to Living Walls and hanging baskets, they want to tap into their affinity with nature. With urbanisation making the natural world more difficult to access, biophilic design is reconnecting people to nature in built environments.

A survey has revealed how Britons feel about socialising after lockdown. While many are eager for life to get back to ‘normal’, a significant portion of the population is feeling anxious about the safety of public spaces, and the pressures of managing in-person social occasions.

After countless outdoor walks and new plant babies, many people have a strengthened sense of connection with nature. The pandemic has made them recognize its importance to their physical and mental wellbeing, and this desire for grounding has manifested in a mushroom boom.