Livable Cities - London AMPS | City, University of London Page 276 Although existing research has demonstrated that simple exposure to nature alone is insufficient, and that establishing a psychological connection with the natural world is crucial for achieving lasting benefits, further in-depth exploration in this field is still necessary. This study seeks to bridge the gap by providing an in-depth analysis of how various spatial attributes in different natural spaces influence the quality of nature contact and connections. Specifically, it investigates which small-scale biophilic urban spaces are most effective in promoting nature contact activities , examining these processes at a micro level. The findings aim to deepen our understanding of the value and mechanisms of small-scale biophilic spaces, thereby enhancing the efficiency of nature contact in urban spaces in a cost-effective manner. The study first proposes two theoretical hypotheses:(1) The occurrence of nature contact activities is not evenly distributed across parks, streets, and buildings, but rather concentrated in specific small-scale biophilic spaces. (2) Different loose parts within these small- scale biophilic spaces facilitate nature contact activities. Secondly, a qualitative research method was employed to conduct case studies on parks, streets, and buildings featuring abundant natural elements in Nottingham, UK, and Chengdu, China. One case for each type was selected in each city. The theoretical hypotheses were tested using walking observations, crowd activity observation records, and nature contact activity coding analysis. This process identified 12 types of "loose-parts " that can promote nature contact activities in small-scale biophilic spaces. This research method is based on firsthand observational data of nature contact activities, providing a more intuitive analysis of the distribution and interaction of these activities compared to traditional surveys and large-scale secondary data studies. Additionally, it encompasses various types of built environments across countries, offering more comprehensive insights. However, due to constraints on research time and funding, the sample size for quantitative analysis does not encompass all seasons of the year. This limitation should be addressed in future research. RESEARCH METHOD Participants This study was conducted by a team of five researchers, including two visiting scholars in the UK and three postgraduate students in urban and rural planning from China. The primary subjects of observation were residents active within the study area. The research began with a general survey of residents' activities, emphasizing nature-related activities during walking observations. Subsequently, specific timed observations were carried out in smaller biophilic spaces to categorize the types of activities. Over 15 residents were randomly selected for tracking and observation in each area, leading to a total of 170 valid observations. Study sites and Walking Observation During the preliminary research, the team identified several potential sites by analyzing data from online media hotspots. Following field visits and observations of the actual environments and patterns of human activity, six case study sites were selected, as shown in Figure 1. The selection criteria were as follows: (1)Parks, streets, and buildings rich in natural elements; (2)Locations Primarily used for residents' daily activities; (3)Sites chosen based on social media analysis, interviews and on-site visits. These case areas represent, to some extent, parks, streets, and buildings with relatively high levels of natural contact in the two cities.
