In search of happiness - part 2

I found some this week.  This may have had something to do with the evening I spent sampling whiskies at our Scottish Staff Conference.  

The evening was hosted by our partners, Famous Grouse.  In 2008 they launched a new blend called Black Grouse.   And since then, sales have helped generate about £300,000 for black grouse conservation on RSPB reserves in Scotland (Corrimony and Inversnaid), Northern England (Geltsdale) and in Wales (Vyrnwy).  This is species that it is in desperate trouble.  The population is down to 5,000 lekking (displaying) males – a fifth of the number in the 1970s.

We need more of these partnerships.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the scale of the challenge facing our environment is too big for any one organisation.  So we have to work smarter with others.  

And, now it appears that our nation’s happiness will be back under the microscope of the UK Government and Office of National Statistics (ONS).  Further to an earlier blog, the next stage of the ONS consultation on the “National Wellbeing Measure” has been launched.  

The public consultation for this process is open to all and running until the 23rd January 2012. It’s a relatively quick online questionnaire, so please take some time to have a read and add your thoughts.

The good news is that the ONS has acknowledged the impact that nature has on our happiness. ‘The Natural Environment’ forms one of the 10 sections of the overall measure, in amongst other issues such as ‘Health’, ‘Relationships’, and ‘Personal Finances’.  

For many of us, this is motherhood and apple pie.  We need nature to keep us functioning.  I’d go further – my own physical and mental well being is dependent on contact with nature.  Just ask my wife.

We are quite keen to keep this process alive.  The prize is great – a measure of progress that is more than just about material wealth.

How does nature improve your quality of life? How do you think this can be measured?  How should the government advertise, promote and use the National Wellbeing Measure?

The ONS and I would be glad to receive your comments.