Amongst the hustle and bustle of London it feels like people are moving far too quickly to notice what is happening around them, and crucially what is happening internally to mental and physical health. Studies have shown more than one million Londoners live with mental illness, ranging from anxiety and depression to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Other studies have found that people living in a city as opposed to rural areas are 21 per cent more likely to have anxiety disorders and 39 per cent more likely to have mood disorders.  

However, for those who are struggling with mental health and have neurodivergent diagnoses such as autism, ADHD and bipolar disorder, research has found environmental activism and a profound engagement with nature have had a positive effect on their mental health.  

Neurodivergent people are often more vulnerable and susceptible to experiencing mental illnesses. This can include social anxiety and depression as well as climate anxiety.  

Louise Taylor, an early career researcher, and eco-feminist, sheds light on the vulnerability of neurodivergent people in society and the need for a redefined relationship with nature.   

“People with autism are vulnerable because intentionally or unintentionally, they’re disruptive,” says Louise. “They disrupt the status quo socially and culturally. Greta Thunberg is a great example of this.”   

As an adult diagnosed with autism, Louise offers insight into her personal connection with nature. “If I want a message and I am really struggling with something, I will need to hit [my local park] White Park Bay. And then I get guidance. It always comes,” says Louise, reflecting on the guidance the natural world brings her when she feels lost.  

Louise also reflects on the connection between nature and creativity, and the benefits of nature in reducing anxiety levels for people with autism. “If they’ve [autistic people] got social anxiety, which a lot of autistic people have, nature can be a much softer environment to meet people,” she says. “It can be an easier space. And there is also lots to see and lots to engage with.”  

Jordan Benoit Minga, a 22-year-old artist, poet, and tinkerer agrees that nature can help soothe his autistic mind and feed directly into his creativity.   

“It was hard for me to engage with people in my class after coming out with an autism diagnosis…so even just engaging with people, and socialising was hard,” says Jordan.  

“At 17, I discovered The South London Gallery and joined the Art Assassins youth collective. It was my first understanding of what the arts meant.” 

This turning point in Jordan’s life not only deepened his understanding of the arts but also introduced him to a supportive community that fostered his growth. The gallery became his sanctuary, offering a space for artistic exploration, education, and eventual employment—a transformative journey that continues to unfold over five years.  

Nestled in the heart of South London, Jordan’s profound connection to nature and the arts unfolded while he worked in the gallery where the quote, “the source of art is in the life of the people,” is etched into the floor. Initially grappling with its meaning, Jordan eventually realised that art was not a separate pursuit but an intrinsic part of his daily existence.  

This realisation began to impact Jordan’s relationship with the nature that surrounds him. 

Burgess Park, located just minutes from Jordan’s Peckham home in Southeast London, is a pivotal element in the artist’s relationship with nature. More than just a green space Burgess Park has become a geographic guide to Jordan; a space to map out the sprawling city from Camberwell to Old Kent Road. Through walks with his brother, Jordan has witnessed the park’s metamorphosis through the seasons and the years. 

“Seeing how this green space has evolved over the years has contributed in a way to how I’ve seen myself evolve a little bit more,” says Jordan. “Green spaces like that just give me a sense of peace. To ground myself to nature and to myself as well.”  

In the middle of bustling London, these green spaces become sanctuaries, offering a profound sense of peace that grounds the artist to nature and, crucially, to himself.  

Jordan’s love of nature and passion for community engagement have led to his involvement with Creekside Discovery Centre in 2023. At the core of Creekside’s mission lies the commitment to educating and connecting urban citizens with the intricate beauty of urban wildlife and landscapes. Jordan finds the experience of working with local schools transformative and paints a vivid picture of a room filled with boots of varying sizes inviting young minds to wade into the creek. Encapsulating the organisation’s innovative approach to fostering a genuine connection between urban youth and their natural surroundings.  

Witnessing urban children wading in the creek, forging authentic ties with their environment, for Jordan, became a poignant illustration of nature’s power to captivate and inspire.  

But it was also the magical artefacts and wildlife that the river released to these young explorers that expanded Jordan’s artistic horizons. Within the main building of the project, there are tanks teeming with various fish and a curated collection of historical artefacts recovered from the creek, beautifully intertwining the narratives of nature and history.   

“It’s really fascinating seeing objects that have been recovered,” says Jordan. “It’s nice it being a repertory of different aspects of nature within a really densely packed city.” 

 Connecting with spaces like the Creekside Discovery Centre and engaging with community gardens emerges as a source of rejuvenation, affirming the symbiotic relationship between nature and artistic expression, proving that in the heart of urban life, the embrace of nature serves as a wellspring of creativity.   

Louise’s words also resonate with Jordan’s experiences. She notes, “It is good for you to be in nature and to care for the nonhuman world. To open up that sense of self where you’re not just obsessed with yourself.”  

For Jordan, this sentiment rings true as he navigates the challenges of autism and societal expectations. Burgess Park and Creekside offer him not only artistic inspiration but also a deeper connection to the wider world.