ABSTRACT
For many people in the western world, spending time in scenic natural surroundings is a valued counterpoint to the demands of work and home life. Whether undertaking a particular activity – such as walking, gardening or cycling – or simply ‘being present’ in a less directed fashion, these environmental encounters are in part appreciated for their capacity to move us to think and feel differently (see Milligan et al., this volume). In coming close to other ecologies and rhythms of life, we may obtain distance from everyday routines, whilst perhaps also experiencing renewed energy and finding different perspectives upon our circumstances. These emotional gains are one reason why such environmental encounters are both prized and the focus of significant commodification. They are feelings which arguably help sustain particular traditions of self-landscape engagement.
