By Charlie Biggs-Thomas

Copyright dailystar

City residents are clocking up more outdoor time than their rural counterparts, a study has found. The survey of 2,000 adults showed that city dwellers spend an average of one hour and 17 minutes outside each day – over 10 minutes more than those in the suburbs. However, over half of urbanites confessed that this time is mostly spent on the daily commute rather than soaking up nature. The research also highlighted a growing disconnect from nature among younger generations, with 44 per cent of Gen Z and 36 per cent of Millennials feeling less in tune with the great outdoors compared to older age groups. This disconnect is having real-life consequences, as two-thirds of Gen Z confess they can go days without stepping foot outside. Parents are also concerned, with under 18s spending just 58 minutes outside each day on average. Over four in 10 parents reckon they spent more time outside when they were kids, blaming increased screen time, safety worries and weather for the decline. The study was carried out by Super, Natural British Columbia, the official tourism body for the Canadian province, which has launched a free new digital tool, The Nature Rating. The tool analyses how much nature is present in the media that people engage with every day – from TV shows and movies, to books and music – to inspire them people to seek out more nature in real life. Social psychologist Dr Pelin Kesebir said: “References to nature in songs, books, and films have been on a steady decline since the 1950s. This is symptomatic of a larger societal issue, as there is a strong link between what we consume and how we behave.” “Art, media, and culture both reflect and shape our lived experiences,” Dr Pelin Kesebir added. “The nature deficit in the content we consume signals a broader and concerning disconnect from the natural world. “That’s why tools that encourage a healthier ‘nature diet’ in our media can be a powerful catalyst for inspiring real-world nature engagement.” The study, conducted via OnePoll, discovered that while 30 per cent of people feel there’s a ‘nature deficit’ in the films, TV, and music they consume, almost half believe seeing nature in pop culture motivates them to get outside themselves. Countryfile was the top show that inspired Brits to get outside most, followed by David Attenborough’s Life on Earth and Blue Planet. Race Across the World and even The Great British Bake Off encourage people to go out. Despite this, only a quarter of people make a conscious decision to get outside once a day. Bad weather was found to be the biggest barrier, while 21 per cent claim there simply aren’t enough hours in the day. Maya Lange of Super, Natural British Columbia said: “The benefits of spending time in nature are widely known, but modern life can make it difficult, with our research showing that we’re becoming more disconnected from nature with each generation. “The Nature Rating is designed to help people take a first step – assessing nature in content they consume can inspire people to go outside and foster a stronger connection to the natural world.”