Sowing the seeds of nature connection
Helping young people feel invested in their environment...
Young people’s connection with nature is often seen as something nice to have, but ultimately not essential. I disagree. To me, it is a character-developing, door-opening, environment-supporting panacea that is unfortunately lacking for so many young people across the UK (in unequal measure).
And that isn’t just an opinion, academic studies have backed up the value of nature connectedness for young people. The report Measures for Connectedness for Children and Adults (Professor Miles Richardson et al, University of Derby) revealed that, “concern is often expressed about children’s lack of connection with nature” and that “research has shown that the level of nature connectedness is below that associated with pro-conservation behaviours”.
Additionally, in a research summary report by the Wildlife Trust called Nature nurtures children, connections with nature were found to have delivered multiple improvements for young people not just around nature engagement but also in their general wellbeing, confidence and academic performance. Addressing the challenges we face in the natural world, and our children’s engagement with it, is something that we can’t ignore.
Young Tree Grower’s Guide
Working with Hampshire Forest Partnership, The Tree Council developed The Young Tree Grower’s Guide to inspire and engage young people, their families and teachers in the simple but rewarding activity of growing trees from seed.
What has this got to do with nature connectedness? Well, we believe that the excitement of a seed scavenger hunt, the wonder of a young seedling sprouting, and the pride of nurturing a living legacy that could survive for hundreds of years is an amazing way to help create a deeper relationship and connection with nature.
The guide, which is freely downloadable online, contains resources for young people (and the adults helping them) right through the tree growing journey, starting with the reasons why trees are so important, to guidance on how to plant your sapling in its forever home.
We hope the resources provide fun and practical information that can also link to the national curriculum, as we recognise that for some young people nature connectedness is passed down from family members and for others it isn’t. That’s why it is key that there is a place for these skills to be delivered in schools as part of the curriculum as well as in clubs and groups.
Young Tree Champions
Whilst the Young Tree Grower’s Guide was a new this year, The Tree Council has been working to provide nature opportunities to young people through our Young Tree Champions (YTC) programme since 2020.
My colleague, Richard Pollard, Head of The Tree Council’s National Schools Programme, designed and developed YTC. He has seen first hand how opportunities to grow connections with trees and nature builds a curiousity that inspires young people to care, take action, and speak up for the interests of trees and nature.
By providing free trees, hedgerow whips, technology, training, and workshops to schools across the UK, pupils gain a sense of ownership towards the nature in their grounds. They want to care for it as it grows, learn about the amazing benefits it brings, and to tell others about it.
The results have been significant with more than 12,000 trees planted and more than 116,000 pupils and teachers involved in growing and supporting them. Key to the success, is the affirming stories of pupils transformed by their newly-discovered passion for trees and nature. But we want to keep doing more.
We have to exercise our imagination as broadly as possible to help young people connect with nature. – Chris Packham
Having worked in a school-setting for over a decade, I’ve seen the need for tools to help young people grow their confidence, support wellbeing, and expand skillsets. I truly believe that accessible opportunities to learn in nature can really contribute in all of these areas.
By creating a diverse range of tools and resources for young people, we hope that we can help to make progress in deepening young people's connections with nature. We hope that the benefits will be felt amongst our younger generations, by all of us and by nature itself. It is critical for our future and theirs.
Young Tree Champions is now open to applications - to receive a nature-boosting free tree pack, backed by free tech, resources and support, for your school, please visit www.youngtreechampions.org/. To access a free, downloadable copy of the Young Tree Growers’ Guide, please visit www.treegrowersguide.org.uk/ytgg/
Katie Rafferty is The Tree Council’s National Schools Programme Officer
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I agree with you. I cannot begin to comprehend how empty my life would have been without my own connection to nature, an inate curiosity and sympathy which was fortunately nurtured by my parents, grandparents and circumstances — not least a 20 minute walk to and from school each day, in rural Kent. At primary school we always had a nature table and went for nature walks. It makes me hopeful to see that there are efforts to engage children and young people, whose surroundings and crowded lives are less congenial than my own upbringing, in understanding and caring for the natural world.