Understanding the therapeutic benefits of engagement with the natural environment within the Dandelion Time approach: a review of literature

There is a large and growing body of literature relating to the benefits of engagement with, or connection to, the natural environment. However, an initial scoping review found that the majority of this literature is focused on adults rather than children and on generalised health and well-being benefits rather than on specifically therapeutic perspectives. No studies were found that matched exactly to the work of Dandelion Time (DT). In order to maximise the relevance of this review to Dandelion Time, the research team drew upon the principles of ecoliteracy (Capra, 1994) to conceptualise The Dandelion Time approach. This ‘language of nature’ uses the ecosystem organizational patterns of networks, feedback, self-regulation and self-organization, and can offer a model for successful human systems.