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Children
in Liverpool want to spend more time outside in nature
CHILDREN in Liverpool and the rest of
the UK want to turn off the TV, put down their devices and spend more time
outside exploring nature, a new research survey by the RSPB has revealed.
The RSPB's Connecting Children with Nature partnership; a ₤2m project funded by
discount supermarket Aldi; which has over the past 2 years has helped over
240,000 children take their 1st steps on their own wild adventure, found that
85% of children who took part wanted to spend more time outside in nature.
The project survey, which quizzed over 1000 school children and teachers about
their nature experience session with the RSPB, revealed that 86% of pupils
learnt something new about nature that they didn't know before, while the
overwhelming majority of teachers agreed that taking part in lessons outdoors
increased children's confidence.
In recent years, a number of studies have pointed to the amount of time British
children are spending outside exploring nature is on the decline. To encourage
more children and their families to swap the sofa for the great outdoors the
RSPB launched the Connecting Children with Nature partnership, which has to date
seen children across Britain spend more than 360,000 hours outside on their own
nature adventure.
To allow children to explore the outdoors, learn new skills and try something
different like their parents and grandparents did, the partnership funded a
number of activities. Since its launch, a Schools' outreach programme has seen RSPB trained staff and volunteers deliver free, 90 minute nature experience
sessions to more than 1000 schools in 17 cities across England, Wales and
Scotland. In Liverpool 5,290 school children have benefited from these sessions.
These give pupils the opportunity to swap the classroom for the great outdoors
to see how they can help wildlife in their School grounds.
To help children and their families to embark on their own wild adventure away
from the classroom, the partnership also launched the Wild Challenge this
Easter. Consisting of 24 activities from minibeast safaris and rock pooling to
creating a hedgehog caf?and planting for wildlife, the challenge allows
families to go on their own wild adventure taking them from their own back
garden to exploring:- Towns, Cities, woodlands and even the coast. So far,
44,000 Wild Challenge actions have been taken in gardens and communities.
Emma Reed, RSPB Education, Families and Youth Manager for Northern England,
said:- "Children will always remember their first discoveries when out
getting wild in nature. From the thrill of finding a blitz of bugs under a rock
to spotting a family of starlings furiously flying around in search of their
next meal. The crisp sunny days, amazing natural colours and returning wildlife
make autumn a great time to get outside and discover the wild wonders. We know
from past research that children aren't spending the same amount of time in
nature as their parents and grandparent did, and this is something we want to
change. With the positive impact nature has on children's learning, physical
health and emotional wellbeing it is more important than ever that we are
helping young people in Liverpool to experience, learn and value the natural
world. Nature is an adventure waiting to be had, so get out, get busy and get
wild."
Oliver King, Managing Director of Corporate Responsibility at Aldi UK, said:-
"Aldi is proud to partner with the RSPB to bring essential opportunities to
young people in their local environment. I joined a Giving Nature a Home session
at a local school and witnessed the passion of the RSPB staff and volunteers in
helping the children gain confidence from the outdoor experience. It's rewarding
to see the scale of what we've achieved together and the vital contribution the
partnership has made in helping so many young people learn more, value and
experience the wonders of nature."
By 2018, over 500,000 children will have benefited from the Connecting Children
with Nature partnership. With autumn being one of the most exciting times of the
year for nature, the RSPB is encouraging children, parents and grandparents in
Liverpool to get outside and under some wild wonders, including going on a fungi
foray, building a hedgehog caf?or investigating the leaves and seeds that have
started to fall from the trees.
For some ideas on exciting activities to do outdoors or to start your own Wild
Challenge adventure with your family, go
online
now!
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