Embrace Nature by Climbing Trees

When was the last time you climbed a tree? Or have you ever climbed any tree in your life? Meet Verhaen Khanna, a young Delhi resident who connects people with the environment by teaching them how to climb trees, hug them, plant them and a lot.

“Many people in big cities suffer from tree blindness. They notice each other’s cars, clothes and houses, but they don’t notice the trees around them – a new tree that has been planted, an old one that was cut down – everything goes unnoticed. I see trees being cut down in Delhi everyday because of silly reasons that people have – some say the trees prevent sunlight from coming into their houses, others complain about falling leaves and flowers, and yet others about the gathering birds. They cut them to make space for parking, for street lights, and so many other reasons, forgetting that these trees are alive and they are growing,” laments Verhaen Khanna, the founder of New Delhi Nature Society (NDNS).

27-year-old Verhaen, a resident of Delhi, is on a mission to cure tree blindness with some unique activities meant to bring people closer to nature.

He started NDNS in 2014, just as a Facebook group where he posted information and pictures of environment-related activities like tree planting, camp-outs, etc., which he was doing with his friends. Slowly, more people started getting interested in his nature outings and the community grew.

“I decided to call it the New Delhi Nature Society because, as the name suggests, it is for all the people in New Delhi who are inclined towards nature. Here, no one needs to sign forms or give any passport-size photographs. You just have to be proactive about the environment, love nature, enjoy it, take pictures, and have fun,” he says.”

The core of NDNS lies in the awareness activities and workshops Verhaen conducts to get people more involved and connected with nature.