It is so important that young people learn about nature – for their own enjoyment and wellbeing, and to ensure that the next generation of decision makers appreciates how the natural world is critical for human flourishing, and understands how human activities affect it.
It’s challenging to help with nature education in schools: schools leaders and teachers are extremely busy, students have very full schedules, school budgets are tight, and not every child has a waterproof coat and a pair of wellies. Furthermore, there isn’t much room in the curriculum for outdoor learning, it’s extremely expensive to hire a coach to even go a short distance, the admin around school trips is substantial, and many teachers don’t have the knowledge and experience to feel comfortable taking students outdoors.
However, there are opportunities. A Government initiative - the National Education Nature Park – is encouraging schools to increase biodiversity in their own grounds. And, at a time when there is a mental health crisis in young people, there is growing awareness that time in nature is beneficial for mental health and wellbeing. Introducing young people to the nature in their own local greenspaces, and working with them to bring more nature into their own schools could be of considerable value. But schools are likely to need support to implement such initiatives, and well directed community input could be game changing.
The National Education Nature Park programme empowers children and young people to make a positive difference to both their own and nature's future. Go on a journey to get to know your outdoor space and use creative decision-making to improve your grounds for both people and nature. These free programmes provide all educators with the resources, support and guidance to embed climate and nature into learning in a way that suits your setting and learners.
Join together with others in Oxfordshire for inspiration, advice, and support:
Oxfordshire Students Sustainability Network - for students aged 14-18 years
Oxfordshire Teachers Sustainability Network - for teachers
There are many outdoor education centres in Oxfordshire which you can visit.
· Wytham Woods, Oxford
· Farm-Ed, Charlbury
· Earth Trust, Little Wittenham
· BBOWT, Sutton Courtenay
· Science Oxford, Headington
· Hill End, Botley
Introducing nature into schools is easy! The smallest of spaces can be amazing, and it doesn’t need to cost you anything. And don’t worry about lack nature knowledge – co-learning with your students is feasible and fun, and help is available.
· To get nature into schools, you just need to give it some space. Don’t use weedkillers at school (it’s probably carcinogenic so not suitable around children), make piles of leaves in autumn, stack up some dead wood, let the ivy grow. If you want to plant something, start simple, pretty and/or tasty e.g. strawberries in pots, and stick to native species for wildlife areas.
· Check out the National Education Nature Park website. There are lots of good ideas and case studies there.
· Connect with your local nature group to see if there is a suitable volunteer who could help you, and perhaps help you access a local nature site within walking distance.
· Join the Oxfordshire Schools Sustainability Network at www.oxfordearthacademy.org for ideas and support from other schools and teachers.
If you have even a bit of nature knowledge and some enthusiasm you could be really helpful. But do bear in mind the constraints that schools are under, and think about your offer before you approach them, and be sure that you can follow through. Schools get jaded by offers of help that they put time into developing, and which then evaporate – be realistic about what you can do. If you manage to get someone’s attention in a school, be reliable, consistent, timely and respectful of their time. If you don’t get an answer to an email, be patient, and follow up later.
· Every school is different. You could focus on your local school and offer some regular help e.g. for Forest School, afterschool clubs, or an annual bug talk/hunt, a stall at a school fete.
· Ensure that what you are offering is actually going to be useful for that school, and be prepared to go through safeguarding checks and training if you become a regular helper.
· Get some advice from the Oxford Nature Educators Network through www.oxfordearthacademy.org.
Your help could be invaluable. Schools are responsible for signposting their students to future opportunities in work and study. Every future career will have nature and climate considerations within it, so students need inspiration to guide their future choices, and businesses need future employees who are “nature-literate”.
· Offer to take part in a school careers fairs and show them what you are doing for nature protection and recovery.
· Offer work experience – try taking two or three students at the same time rather than just one – you don’t need to create anything specific for them – let them shadow different people, take notes to answer a couple of questions, and get them to feed back to you at the end of the week.
· Connect with a local school and buy them some gloves, wellies, or tools.
· Send a regular work party to help them introduce nature in school grounds.
· Contact www.oxfordearthacademy.org for more advice.
As more farmers embrace nature recovery in the countryside, it’s exciting to share this with the next generation, reconnecting them with the land and good quality food. Some farmers are generously opening up their farms to school visits, and can be disappointed when schools cannot afford to take up these opportunities. Inspiring young people however, could also take the form of visiting a local school and helping them start to grow food on their own site, perhaps culminating in an annual visit to the farm, either from school, or through a school PTA. Building relationships with local school, allowing the local community to understand what is happening in the rural greenspaces around them, can build pride, excitement and community.
With thanks to Kim Polgreen and Ros Marsden for this content.
Kim is a Researcher Practitioner in Nature Education, working with Oxford University, and with local schools. kim.polgreen@oxfordearthacademy.org.
Ros Marsden is the Education Officer for “Everyone’s Evenlode” at Cotswolds National Landscape