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Take your nearest exit into nature. Get your 17 of green.
We spend so much of our time surrounded by screens, schedules and everyday pressures. Greentime is the antidote to screen time. It's a way to restore your mind and your body.
Greentime17 is a simple invitation to spend 17 minutes a day in nature – wherever you are, whatever the weather, and however you like to do it.
Nature is good for your head, your mood and your wellbeing. Spending time in nature can help us feel calmer, happier and more connected, while giving our minds and bodies a break from the everyday.
The more time we spend in nature, the more we start to notice the little things – what’s growing, buzzing, flowering and flying around us. And once we start noticing nature, we might just feel like giving it a helping hand, from planting and growing to protecting and restoring.
One person spending 17 minutes in nature is a small thing. Millions of people finding their 17 every day? That starts to add up.
Greentime17 aims to help at least 10 million people feel the benefits of spending time in nature by 2028 – while helping communities take action to support nature and climate recovery.
Greentime17 is for everyone, everywhere - however it works best for you.
To join in, all you need to do is spend 17 minutes in nature or green space each day. This doesn't need to be rolling countryside - your local park, a yard or garden all count, as does noticing plants in a window box or listening to birdsong out the window!
You can get your 17 of green however you want - with a timer on your phone, as a habit tracker, on the fridge, or just keep an eye on the time.
17 minutes a day adds up to two hours a week.
Research* suggests that spending at least two hours a week in nature is associated with significantly better health and wellbeing. The good news? It doesn’t matter whether you get your two hours in one go or through lots of shorter visits.
So, you don’t need a whole day in the wilderness. You don’t need to be an expert in nature. You don’t even need to leave your local area. You just need to find your 17.
*White et al., Scientific Reports (2019), based on data from 19,806 people in England. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44097-3
17 ways to get your 17 of green - wherever you are, whatever the weather, and however you like to do it.
Over the last 25 years we have developed extensive expertise in nature and social recovery - to help both people and planet through our Nature Connections programme.
Why not use your 17 minutes to get out with your camera or phone?
Our Wildflower Photographer of the Year competition is open for entries (deadline 30 September). Photos can show wildflowers in rural or urban settings, planted or truly wild, with or without people, in close-up or in abundance.
If you want to spend your 17 minutes in nature doing something practical, we've got loads of ideas for easy and quick ways you can make your community greener. It's a win-win - you get your 17, and your neighbourhood benefits!