The role of nature in migrant integration: An eco-social perspective

Despite the local turn in UK integration policy, which advocates for community-based approaches (Phillimore, 2020), the focus of academia and policy remains on the social structural dimensions of integration, neglecting the role that nature plays. In this paper we address this gap by investigating the role of nature in integration experiences. To explore this, we conducted interdisciplinary research using participatory, aesthetic and social science methods in three UK case studies—Blackburn with Darwen, the Isle of Lewis, and the London Borough of Haringey. Our findings reveal that nature engagement fosters integration through three key processes: (1) socializing within natural spaces, which facilitates new communal ties; (2) aesthetic and sensory interactions, which enhance psychological well-being and sense-making; and (3) deep ecological connections, which shape personal and collective belonging and identity. Importantly, these findings challenge traditional assimilationist paradigms by advocating for integration as a relational and multidirectional process in which both migrants and host communities negotiate belonging within shared ecological spaces. This study contributes to contemporary integration theories by foregrounding the active agency of nature within an expanded eco-social framework. Drawing on Latour (2018), we argue that nature is not a passive backdrop but an active participant in shaping integration experiences. By recognizing the entanglement of social and ecological systems, we advocate for a revised UK integration policy that embeds environmental considerations alongside social and structural factors. Future research should examine the long-term impacts of nature-based integration initiatives and explore ways to enhance equitable access to natural spaces for all community members.