We believe that the current definitions of nature do not reflect the growing scientific evidence and overwhelming consensus that humans are part of Nature and a wider ecosystem.

If you feel part of Nature and agree that we need to change how we talk about it to help restore our connection with the natural world please sign this petition.

Our story starts last Autumn at a gathering at Anthropy at the Eden Project in Cornwall. It was there that the Oxford English Dictionary definition of nature was shared with us.

‘The phenomena of the physical world collectively; esp. plants, animals, and other features and products of the earth itself, as opposed to humans or human creations.’

We were dismayed to hear that humans were excluded from the definition and felt compelled to do something about it. Lawyers for Nature and House of Hackney were already collaborating on a project to appoint Nature and Future Generations to the Board at House of Hackney, and we decided to work together to change the definition of nature. 

Nature does not have a voice or a say in the decisions we are taking that are driving the Climate Crisis and destroying biodiversity. We believe one of the reasons this is happening is because we have separated ourselves from nature and the simple truth is that ‘we are Nature’.

Our aim with the #WeAreNature campaign is to persuade all of the major UK dictionaries to change their definition of nature to include humans.

We see this as an important symbolic shift to encourage us to collectively take the urgent action needed to protect the natural world. 

A definition change can be an important contribution to the wider movement to protect Nature. Please sign this petition to let UK dictionaries know that you feel part of Nature and want to be included in their current definitions of it. 

Jessie Mond Wedd (Lawyers for Nature), Frieda Gormley and Javvy M Royle (House of Hackney)