I’ve been a member of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Youth Council for two and a half years now. In that time I’ve had the privilege of being involved with some fantastic campaigns and projects aimed at engaging and inspiring other young people to appreciate the importance of the natural world around them. Along the way, I’ve met a myriad of people from all walks of life – some who have felt a deep connection with nature since childhood, and others who have only recently come to ‘discover’ it. Yet I am sure that almost all of them would agree: nurturing a deeper connection with nature has been a transformative experience for them and their lives. I, for one, can safely say that I wouldn’t be the person I am today without having grown up with nature rooted in my childhood.

Spending time in nature, at any age, can reduce our stress levels, foster clarity and creativity, and allow us to take a step back from our busy lives. But research also shows that it can foster a greater sense of compassion for both the human and non-human beings we share our lives with. This, in turn, can encourage us towards more pro-environmental behaviours as we begin to recognise and connect with the value of the natural world.

This weekend brings with it the perfect opportunity to connect with nature in the form of the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, which runs from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th. By counting the birds in a garden or local green space for an hour, you can make such a meaningful difference for nature. Your observations will contribute to vital citizen science data sets, helping us understand how our UK garden birds are responding to climate change and human impacts – and how we can work together to better conserve them.

By no means do you have to consider yourself a nature lover, an activist, or a birdwatcher to take part. In fact, even if you’ve never paid more than a fleeting moment’s attention to the birds in your garden, giving them just an hour of your time this weekend could foster benefits that could reverberate further than you may imagine

It’s not said often enough that while it’s fantastic to have people who are entirely dedicated to the cause of protecting nature and the environment, you don’t need to be wholly invested in campaigning. It’s okay if nature is not your main driving passion or interest in life, because whatever your niche, nature is by no means mutually exclusive to it. Everyone can bring a unique set of skills and perspectives to the table, which can be a vital, untapped resource to improve the world we live in.

What we truly need in this fight are people who can simply appreciate and recognise the importance of nature – both in their local area and beyond – and this comes from spending time in it. As David Attenborough explains: “No-one will protect what they don’t care about, and no-one will care about what they’ve never experienced.” When we connect with nature, we develop a greater awareness of how so much of what we do, from the career paths we pursue to the lives we lead, is deeply interwoven with our natural environment. These natural systems support the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe – not to mention their intrinsic social, cultural, and economic value. If we can build a culture where people across all areas of society appreciate and act on the relevance of nature in their own lives, just imagine the positive ripple effects on society, biodiversity, and the planet.

Ultimately, it’s initiatives like the Big Garden Birdwatch that can provide the important first spark of nature connectedness that can truly move us to discover nature’s value on a personal level. And allowing ourselves to nurture this connection isn’t just personally fulfilling, it’s fundamental to building a better planet. A planet on which each and every one of us recognises the interconnected life-support systems that sustain us in everything we do, and feels compassion for all those we share our lives with.

So, this weekend, why not get outside? Why not watch the birds for an hour for the RSPB – notice their unique behaviours, intricate colours, and fascinating individual idiosyncrasies, and cherish the quiet spark of connection they offer to the natural world. Watch the birds this weekend, and who knows where it may lead you.