'ECOSEXUALITY' IS THE LATEST SEXUAL ORIENTATION THAT MEANS PEOPLE ARE 'TURNED ON' BY NATURE, INCLUDING TREES

The term ‘ecosexuality’ is the state of finding nature sexually appealing, whether that means feeling at one with nature’s ‘energy’ or physically caressing nature. A sexual orientation centered around the seductiveness of nature has drawn eye-rolls from social media users, mocking people who have reportedly fallen in love with trees.

A sexual health coach on TikTok described ‘ecosexuality’ as an umbrella term for people who ‘treat nature as a sensual partner.

 The ecosexuality tag on TikTok has been viewed more than 470,000 times, with videos showing people taking freezing cold plunges in creeks, caressing lemons, and rubbing themselves against trees. The term was coined by former sex educated Annie Sprinkle who, in 2008, ‘married’ the earth in a green wedding ceremony. Her ecosexuality involved removing the term ‘mother’ from Mother Earth, and changing it to Lover Earth.

 

People who consider themselves ecosexual may deny the assumption that they ‘like to have sex with trees’, but Sonja Semyonova, 45, has described her relationship with an oak tree as ‘erotic’. Sonja moved to Vancouver Island in Canada in the winter of 2020 and went on daily walks during lockdown.

During her walks, Sonja would stroll past a large oak tree near her home and she began having 'erotic' experiences in summer 2021. She describes the tree as having all the qualities she has looked for in a person - stability, protection, and support