25 percent of Britons have never played conkers and marigolds are a mystery
To the best of their knowledge, an eighth have never come across an oak, almost a quarter have not seen an apple tree, and only a third can tell the difference between a birch and a beech. When it comes to flowers, 19 percent cannot recall seeing a sunflower, petunias are unrecognisable to nearly half (45 percent) and over a third (37 percent) claim not to have seen a marigold. Many adults missed out on childhood activities, with two thirds never having climbed a tree and almost a quarter missing the joy of playing conkers. The study, commissioned by Honest Organic, also found 29 percent “often” walk past trees and plants on their way to work but have no idea what they are.
Jez Rose, a behaviour expert, honeybee farmer and author, said: “The study shows how those living in just cities aren’t making the most of the beautiful nature around them.
“With a worrying number simply assuming there’s no nature around them to notice.
“Trees and plants not only help us survive but help areas look colourful and inviting besides from being surrounded by grey buildings.”
The research also found one in 10 has ‘never’ spent time in nature without being connected to technology.
And for more than a third, it’s been a year or more since they took in the greenery without distraction, which has led to 10 percent admitting they have a “nature blind spot”.
And seven in 10 haven’t been to a lake or a forest in the past month.
A huge 97 percent of those studied were either overlooking or ignoring nature right in front of them.
And almost six in 10 were too focused on technology to even look up.
But over a third of those, surveyed via OnePoll, wish their garden and street had more plants, and they were more knowledgeable about trees.
Eight in 10 would like to see more nature in their cities, and 86 percent of Londoners alone feel this way.
It was also found three in 10 actively take time out of their workday to enjoy green spaces once a week, but a sixth can’t recall seeing any nature on their daily commute.
Instead, one in five spends their journey to work listening to music on their phone or tablet, and a tenth scroll through social media.
Charlotte Kerr, the senior brand manager for Honest Organic Great Britain, added: “As we continue to live busy lives, often immersed in technology, it seems we’ve forgotten to notice amazing areas of nature around us.
Things Brits have never done:
1. Seen a lotus flower 73 percent
2. Played in a tree house 71 percent
3. Seen a common ash tree 64 percent
4. Made mud pie 60 percent
5. Seen succulents 56 percent
6. Made a den in the garden 47 percent
7. Swung on a tree swing 46 percent
8. Seen petunias 45 percent
9. Helped their parents water plants 40 percent
10. Seen a silver birch tree 37 percent
11. Seen a beech tree 37 percent
12. Seen marigolds 37 percent
13. Climbed trees 33 percent
14. Seen a palm tree 33 percent
15. Played with conkers 24 percent
16. Seen an apple tree 23 percent
17. Seen daisies 20 percent
18. Seen sunflowers 19 percent
19. Seen roses 18 percent
20. Seen an oak tree 13 percent
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