ABOUT THE CREATOR

CREATOR OF THE PATHWAYS FRAMEWOK

In 2017 the Pathways to Nature Connection were first published, arising from a 3-year PhD by Ryan at the University of Derby. The initial paper, Beyond Knowing Nature has been viewed over 59,000 times and cited by over 380 publications. It has since inspired people across the globe to meaningfully reconnect with the more-than-human world to which we all belong.

Dr Ryan Lumber MSc., FHEA, CPsychol

I'm a charted psychologist and academic who created the Pathways Framework in 2016. Since then, I've gone on to work with a range of organisations to support them in their application of the pathways to help reconnect people with the rest of nature. My work has included bespoke training on the pathways and research and keynote talks. In addition, I've also made a number of media appearances talking about nature connection. If you are interested in training, hosting a talk on the pathways or a media appearance, please use the contact page to get in touch.

Current Partnerships

  • Values in Action (VIA) Institute of Character

  • Wild as Well

Previous Collaborations

  • The National Trust

  • New Zealand Department for Conservation

  • Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

  • Derby Museum

NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS

Passmore, H-A., Lumber, R., Niemiec, R. & Sofen, L. I. (2025). Creating kinship with nature and boosting well-being: Testing two novel character strengths-based nature connectedness interventions. Journal of Happiness Studies, 26(71). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-025-00900-9

Lumber, R. (2024) ‘Ecological Peace and Character Strengths’, in Niemiec, R. M. (Eds) Peace Psychology and Character Strengths. Springer. (pp. 207–226). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-66928-6_8

Lumber, R., Passmore, H.-A., & Niemiec, R. (2023). Trees are honest, bugs are creative, sunsets are hopeful - Identifying character strengths in nature: A structured tabular thematic analysis. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology, 4, 100092. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cresp.2023.100092

Price, E., Maguire, S., Firth, C., Lumber, R., Richardson, M. & Young, R. (2022). Factors associated with nature connectedness in school-aged children. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology, 3, 100037. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cresp.2022.100037

Keenan, R., Lumber, R., Richardson, M. & Sheffield, D. (2021). Three Good Things in Nature: A nature-based Positive Psychological Intervention to improve mood and well-being for depression and anxiety. Journal of Public Mental Health. DOI:10.1108/JPMH-02-2021-0029

Rhodes, C. & Lumber, R. (2021). Using the Five Pathways to Nature to make a Spiritual Connection in Early Recovery from SUD: A Pilot Study. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-021-00565-4

Cudworth, D. & Lumber, R. (2021). The importance of Forest School and the Pathways to nature connection. Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education, 24, 71-75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42322-021-00074-x 6.

Richardson, M., Passmore, H-A., Lumber, R., Thomas, R. & Hunt, A. (2021). Moments, not minutes: The nature—well-being relationship. International Journal of Wellbeing, 11(1), 8-33. https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v11i1.1267

Richardson, M., Dobson, J. Abson, D. J., Lumber, R., Hunt, A., Young, R. & Moorhouse, B. (2020). Applying the pathways to nature connectedness at a societal scale: a leverage points perspective. Ecosystems and People, 16(1), 387-401. 10.1080/26395916.2020.1844296

Richardson, M., Passmore, H-A., Barbett, L., Lumber, R., Thomas, R. & Hunt, A. (2020). The green care code: How nature connectedness and simple activities help explain pro‐nature conservation behaviours. People and Nature, 2(3), 821-839. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10117

Hughes, J., Richardson, M. & Lumber, R. (2018). Evaluating connection to nature and the relationship with conservation behaviour in children. Journal for Nature Conservation, 45, 11-19. 10.1016/j.jnc.2018.07.004

Lumber, R., Richardson, M. & Sheffield, D. (2017). Beyond knowing nature: Contact, emotion, compassion, meaning, and beauty are pathways to nature connection. PLoSONE 12(5): e0177186. Doi:/10.1371/journal.pone.0177186

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