Rosy Fox speaks to Mark Crisp about his lockdown experience, how it has strengthened his connection to nature, and the projects he has undertaken to aid the survival of Britain’s biodiversity.

Lockdown. The word has been teetering on the tips of our tongues for a matter of months.

Formally defined as "a situation in which people are not allowed to enter or leave a building or area freely because of an emergency", the concept is shrouded in ambiguity. It's becoming increasingly challenging to derive positivity from the current state of the world.

The longer we remain indoors and abandon our daily routines, the invisible threads connecting us to the natural world like the roots of a majestic oak tree begin to unravel. But, while contact with other humans is discouraged, there is no rule prohibiting us from interacting with the myriad of ecosystems existing beyond the confines of our four brick walls. 25-year-old Mark Crisp is a stock person (a modern-day cowboy, in his words) for RSPB Ouse Washes, who has taken advantage of the lockdown period to focus on deepening his connection to nature. Given the disposition of his career choice, it's clear that Mark possesses a flair for the natural world. However, like many urban dwellers, the unrelenting cacophony of modern-day life contributes to a significant mental and physical disconnect between humans and the wildlife that surrounds us. I spoke to Mark, who shed light on his positive lockdown experience and how it has reinforced his intrinsic relationship with nature.

With heaps of free-time available to him, Mark has dabbled in a spot of eco-friendly, sustainable DIY. From discarded, ramshackle pallets destined to live the remainder of their lives buried in a skip he fashioned bat and bird boxes to display in his aptly named "wild garden", and has witnessed a family of blue tits calling dibs on his makeshift bird home. Suffolk Wildlife Trust states the addition of boxes for nesting and roosting in your garden offer a haven for species which have lost a large portion of their natural breeding site due to urbanisation. Fortunately, the efforts of residents like Mark allow our flighty friends to thrive in a sub-optimal environment, restoring the natural balance imperative for the successful functioning of the biosphere.

The offcuts from the bird and bat boxes have been used by Mark to create a five-star bug hotel that puts the Hilton to shame, with a hedgehog hotel next on the lockdown agenda. While insects have amassed a poor reputation for being unaesthetically pleasing, they are the key workers of the natural world. Populations of beneficial insect species have reportedly declined by more than 40% due to increased use of pesticides and habitat destruction, with the entirety of insect species steadily dropping by 2.5% per year, estimating they could disappear completely within the next century. Bug hotels assembled in gardens provide a refuge for insects to continue sustaining biodiversity through environmental services such as pollination, nutritional cycles, and functioning as an abundant food source for birds.

Embracing nature works wonders for the mind, body, and soul, and with lockdown comes the gift of time for Mark to submerge himself in the outside world. There is overwhelming support for the psychotherapeutic benefits that arise from immersing yourself in nature plastered across the internet. In fact, scientific research has accumulated a wealth of evidence suggesting that simply being in nature has a powerful effect on our psyche and our behaviour, reducing symptoms of anxiety and stress, increasing our attention span, and getting our creative juices flowing. One study demonstrated that people suffering from major depressive disorder experienced significant positive changes to their mood, and increased cognitive abilities, when walking through nature. “Even the smallest aspect of nature will soothe any stress I'm feeling and bring me back down to earth, allowing me to deal with any problems I am facing”, Mark tells me, “I take a deep breath, close my eyes, exhale, and I'm ready to crack on”. Nature heals, and it’s exactly what the doctor ordered during the current pandemic sweeping across the globe.

Daily walks in the wilderness have provided solace throughout lockdown and exposed Mark to an enchanting world of flora and fauna concealed in his local patch, while cycling to fetch essential supplies has enabled him to encounter aspects of nature that would typically be overlooked on a mindless drive. "Phenomenal finds have included a nesting pair of peregrine falcons, a turtle dove, linnets, yellowhammers, bluebell woods, blackcaps, chiffchaffs, and so much more", he says enthusiastically, "I've experienced amazing dawn choruses and sunrises all on my doorstep - which in all my years of living here I never knew about".

Although whispers of lockdown being lifted are floating through the warm, spring air, we must continue to strengthen our bond with the natural world as we attempt to resume normality. Mark has demonstrated the ease and importance of reinforcing the innate connection to nature which courses through the veins of every inhabitant of planet Earth. Thank you to Mark for enlightening us on the wonderful projects he has been involved in to help bundles of biodiversity thrive. To see what Mark is currently up to, follow his Instagram page where he regularly uploads brilliant photographs of his ramblings in the hope of inspiring others to be unashamedly passionate about wildlife.

Lockdown Love Stories: How Lockdown can Rekindle our Relationship with Nature

Rosy Fox speaks to Mark Crisp about his lockdown experience, how it has strengthened his connection to nature, and the projects he has undertaken to aid the survival of Britain’s biodiversity.