We may be entering the age of virtual realities, but it would be naïve to simply believe that we can leave nature behind and expect that our sense of wellbeing will be preserved. If you’ve ever felt restored by spending time in nature, or conversely, depleted because you found yourself being shuffled into constructed urban, spaces, you are not alone. For much research suggests that the human mind is not at all at ease with artificial environments, with their sharp lines and textures and their culture of endless busy-ness. Urban settings tend to create a stimuli mismatch, because humans have evolved to process the sights and sounds of the natural world. Artificial environments can deplete our limited mental resources, leaving us feeling anxious, fatigued and distracted.