Why Nature, Neurodiversity, and Diverse Thinking Matter More Than Ever

Reflecting on Joe Harkness’s new book: "Neurodivergent, by Nature" a personal blog post by Inez.

Over the years, in my roles at both The Grower and Natural England, I’ve found myself coming back to a recurring question — one that often comes up in conversations with colleagues and peers across the environment and creative sectors.

Why do so many neurodivergent people seem drawn to work in nature, conservation, or the arts?

It’s something I’ve wondered about quietly for a long time. And I know I’m not the only one. There’s a clear pattern, though not often discussed in mainstream narratives, of people who think, process, and engage with the world differently finding a natural home in wild spaces and creative places.

That’s one reason I was so excited to read and support Joe Harkness’s upcoming book, Neurodivergent, by Nature, out 31st July with Bloomsbury Wildlife. Joe has done something incredibly powerful and timely: he’s brought together a series of personal stories, his own and others', to explore the profound, often life-changing relationships that neurodivergent individuals form with nature.

After receiving an ADHD diagnosis in his thirties, Joe began to question whether his love of nature was part of his neurodivergence or something that developed through his choices and experiences. That curiosity led him to connect with other neurodivergent people who shared his passion for the natural world. The result is this honest, empathetic, and deeply thoughtful book.

A Safe Space in the Wild

For many, nature offers a refuge. It's a place where societal expectations fall away, where sensory experiences, the texture of bark, the rhythm of birdsong, the feel of cool soil; are heightened, not numbed. It can be a space where curiosity thrives without pressure, and where difference feels not only accepted, but welcome.

Joe’s book captures this beautifully. He doesn't shy away from the challenges, from stigma around diagnosis to the pressures of workplace environments that aren’t always designed with neurodivergent needs in mind. But what stands out most to me is the strength, creativity, and clarity that neurodivergent individuals bring to nature-based work. Their attention to detail, their deep interests, their problem-solving abilities; all are vital assets, especially in the face of today’s ecological and climate crises.

Nature, Workplaces, and the Need for Diverse Thinking

One of the most valuable threads running through Neurodivergent, by Nature is the way Joe links personal experience to wider systemic questions; particularly around the workplace.

In a world that often values speed, uniformity, and narrow definitions of productivity, neurodivergent people can find themselves pushed to the margins. But what if our work environments were more inclusive by design? What if we created space for different kinds of thinking, reflective, intuitive, focused, creative, to not just survive, but thrive?

Joe’s book is a strong reminder that supporting neurodiversity isn't just a matter of individual wellbeing. It's also essential to innovation and resilience. In the context of conservation and climate action, we urgently need a wider range of voices and perspectives. The problems we face are too complex to be solved by one way of thinking.

When Worlds Collide: Parallels Across Sectors

What may feel second nature to those of us working in green or creative sectors, the connection between the natural world and our wellbeing, isn't always as apparent to others. But the truth is, this connection can transcend industries and disciplines.

I've had the privilege of observing this through the lens of another field entirely: the Attune Project (attuneproject.com), which has recently come to a close. Led by a brilliant team, including my Mum, Anna Mankee-Williams, who is an Associate Professor on the project. Attune explored how young people, many with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and neurodivergent diagnoses, found healing and expression through arts-based mediums but the research showed they also sought out nature.

Their work explored why we seek out tranquillity, in partnership with the Cornwall National Landscape, and how natural spaces offer more than just escape, they offer connection, clarity, and, often, a sense of coming home to ourselves. Watching their journey has been a moving experience. Despite being in an entirely different sector, the parallels with my own work, Joe’s writing, and countless lived experiences are striking.

These moments of overlap, between conservation, arts, health, and education, are powerful. They reinforce that nature's ability to support and transform isn't limited by job title, diagnosis, or background. It’s part of something much bigger and more universal. That’s why it’s my absolute pleasure to support Joe’s book and help push it out into the world where it can do the work it was meant to do.

What I Took From the Book — and Why You Should Read It

Reading Neurodivergent, by Nature left me with a sense of hope and a renewed belief in the power of inclusion. It also made me realise just how much I still have to learn, from Joe, from the others whose stories appear in the book, and from the neurodivergent colleagues and collaborators I work with every day.

This isn’t just a book for those who are neurodivergent, or who work in environmental sectors. It’s a book for anyone interested in what it means to live and work more meaningfully, more curiously, and more inclusively. It asks all of us to look more closely, at ourselves, at our systems, and at the natural world.

And it offers something we all need more of right now: connection, reflection, and a reminder that there are many ways to be, to think, and to belong.

Support the Book

If you’re curious to learn more, Neurodivergent, by Nature is out 31st July and published by Bloomsbury Wildlife.

You can pre-order it here:🔗

https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/neurodivergent-by-nature-9781399413367/

Joe is also sharing insights and updates via his channels, and you can follow the conversation using the hashtag #NeurodivergentByNature.

📸 Instagram: @neurodivergent_naturalist

🔗 LinkedIn: Joe Harkness

🟦 BlueSky: @joeharkness

📚 Publisher: @BloomsburyOutdoors (Instagram) | @ChiffChat (X and BlueSky)

Let’s help spread the word — and keep growing the conversation.

Keywords: The Grower, Neurodiversity, Inclusion, Nature, Environment, Business,  Wildlife, ADHD, Dyslexia, Growing, Conservation, People, Autism , Arts, Therapy, Book.