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Reports & guides | 14 December 2021

Nature visuals: diversity in images of England’s green and natural spaces

In this new report we highlight the lack of diversity in images of people enjoying outdoor activities, the impact this has both on people and on climate engagement, and how we can and must make imagery more inclusive and impactful. Find out more below, including the recording of our launch webinar. 

Nature is a key entry point for thinking about climate change, but the images currently in circulation are unlikely to engage well beyond those already interested in relevant issues. The majority of these images depict a narrow set of people, activities and places. This reinforces barriers to accessing the natural environment, and communicators are missing the opportunity to engage broader audiences with climate change and biodiversity loss.

In a new report commissioned by Natural England, we present practical, evidence-based principles and recommendations for developing more inclusive nature visuals. This guidance is for anyone wanting to tell more diverse stories of people and nature, including communications professionals, academics, and everyone working in the outdoor and photography sectors.

We’ve also summarised the content in this blogpost, as well as in the launch webinar below.

Photo credits: Josie Gealer, Peter Lourenco, Hollie Fernando

In the launch webinar below we present our report and findings, show visual examples, and hear about the practical changes we need to see around nature visuals from photographer Joanne Coates and  environmental activist Judy Ling Wong CBE.

The report includes 6 evidence-based, practical principles for nature imagery highlighted below; barriers to engaging with nature; recommendations for developing more inclusive nature visuals, and a guide for sourcing more diverse imagery.

Explore our Climate Visuals image library

Climate Visuals

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