Natural England recently commissioned research to understand the perspective of children and young people relating to nature during Covid-19. Asking children about their experiences directly is important to provide young people with a greater stake in and voice about the natural environment.
A total of 1,501 children, aged between 8-15 in England, participated in an online survey between 6th-18th August 2020 (inclusive).
We were pleased to find that the results demonstrate the positive role of nature in supporting children’s well-being, with eight in ten (83%) of children interviewed agreeing that being in nature made them very happy.
It was also great to find out that environmental concern was high among children in England. Eight in ten (82%) agreed that they would like to do more to protect the environment; 78% said that protecting the environment was important to them.
However, six in ten children (60%) reported to have spent less time outdoors since the start of coronavirus, more than double the proportion that had spent more time outside (25%). When asked where they had visited in the past week, three in five children (62%) had played in gardens (theirs or someone else’s) and the same proportion (62%) had visited a park, playing field or playground. Far fewer children had spent time in other natural places such as the seaside (27%), the woods (26%) or the wider countryside (24%).
We want as many children as possible to get outdoors whether it is in their garden, local park, seaside, woods or the wider countryside and so we have pulled a list of FSC guides, resources and courses together which will have them putting on their raincoats in no time!
Nature Spotters Guides
Our Nature Spotters Guides challenge you to find all 80 nature spots. There are Nature Spots to see all year round, even in the winter. How many will you find? Each one will win you a bronze, silver or gold medal!
Scavenger Hunt Activity
Find a range of items in your garden or local park. What will you collect?
Weather Activity
Create your own weather diary and make a note on the changing weather that is happening. Autumn is an exciting season which can see your day start sunny and bright in the morning and then wet and windy in the afternoon! What will autumn 2020 be like?
Maps Activity
Enjoy focusing on a different sense by listening to and mapping the many sounds around you.
Family courses
We have a range of family courses for all ages to enjoy. Learn about the wildlife around you on one of our nature walks or find out what it takes to survive in the great outdoors on a bushcraft course!
For the full set of findings click here, or for an infographic click here.