Human-nature relationships and deep connections: An exploration of how a women’s swimming group increased their relationship to nature, to themselves and to other women

Abstract

Scholarly interest in has grown over time to address how vegetation (‘green space’) and water bodies (‘blue space’) contribute to health and wellbeing and to social connectedness (Bates & Moles, 2022, 2023; Finlay et al., 2015) and potentially impact health and behaviour through the provision of aesthetic spaces for relaxation, socialisation and physical activity (Geneshka M et al., 2021). During the enforced lockdowns of COVID19 green and blue space became a focus of individual and small group activity. Using a qualitative methodology, this research sought the views of thirty-nine women, located in an Australian, Victorian bayside suburb who formed in response to COVID19 restrictions and who continue to swim regularly. The research sought to understand how and if individual health and wellbeing and human connections increased or changed as a result of their belonging to the swimming group. Findings affirm that access to blue space during and beyond the COVID19 increased women’s health and wellbeing. Findings also affirm that the blue space evoked and engendered in the women new ‘entanglements’ and connection with the blue space.