The results of a new survey have shown that nature is a central part of life in Guernsey, with beaches, coastal areas, and woodlands providing important spaces for recreation, wellbeing, and connection – but islanders are increasingly concerned about the pressures facing our natural environment.

The results of Guernsey’s first People & Nature Survey have provided the most detailed picture yet of how islanders experience, value, and interact with our local natural world. The survey, led by the Nature Commission, asked islanders aged 16 and above to reflect on their experiences with nature, their attitudes and values around nature, and the environmental issues they are most concerned about. More than 900 people took part in the survey, creating a valuable baseline that will help track how our relationship with nature changes over time.

For many islanders, nature is not simply a place to visit; it is an important part of maintaining health and wellbeing. Exercise, fresh air, and spending time outdoors were among the leading motivators for visiting natural spaces, with parents also highlighting the importance of nature for family time and connection.

These findings will help the Nature Commission and others guide future work to support the community’s connection with nature and inform efforts to protect our natural environment. The survey will be repeated in the future to build an understanding of how islanders’ relationship with nature changes over time.

The results of the survey are now available via the Nature Commission website: https://naturecommission.gg/people-and-nature-survey-2025-results/. 

The Nature Commission would like to thank everyone who completed the People and Nature Survey in autumn 2025. Thanks also go to Umbizo for providing significant time and expertise in analysing and visualising the survey data. Their support has been instrumental in helping to bring the findings to life, turning a complex dataset into clear and engaging insights that will inform future work to connect people with nature across Guernsey.