果冻影院

The study, commissioned by The Wildlife Trusts, examined 451 children across 12 areas of England who took part in outdoor activities such as identifying plants and trees. The participants completed surveys before and after the activities.

The research found that following the outdoor activities, 79% of the participants found that the experience could help their schoolwork. The majority of children also believe that it could help their relationships in class, with 81% agreeing that they had better relationships with their teachers and 79% reporting better relationships with their classmates.聽

After their activities, 84% of children said that they were capable of doing new things when they tried.

The quantitative analysis by researchers accounted for children having different characteristics (such as gender and age), undertaking different Wildlife Trust events, having different initial levels of engagement with nature-related aspects of life (such as spending time outdoors in nature or reading books about nature), and having different initial levels of wellbeing, nature connection, and pro-environmental values.

In addition to the survey, teachers, Wildlife Trust educators and 199 of the children were also observed by the IOE research team and interviewed about their experiences.

The report suggests that there should be further opportunities for all children to engage with nature.聽

The authors write: 鈥淐hildren鈥檚 accessibility to nature can be limited by their location and by various other barriers. For some children, visiting nature through their school may provide opportunities that they would not otherwise be able to gain. For children at school, learning about nature while learning within nature can help cover aspects of the national curriculum while providing enjoyable and beneficial experiences.鈥澛�

They suggest that 鈥渞ecognising the diverse ways in which people can engage with nature, and the diverse people who do so, may help ensure that more children can see that nature is accessible for 鈥榩eople like me鈥�.鈥�

Nigel Doar, The Wildlife Trusts鈥� director of strategy said:

鈥淭his research shows that children experience profound and diverse benefits through regular contact with nature. Contact with the wild improves children鈥檚 wellbeing, motivation and confidence. The data also highlights how children鈥檚 experiences in and around the natural world led to better relationships with their teachers and class-mates.聽

鈥淭he Wildlife Trusts believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience the joy of wildlife in daily life and we鈥檙e calling on government to recognise the multiple benefits of nature for children 鈥� and ensure that at least one hour per school day is spent outdoors learning and playing in wild places.鈥�

IOE researcher, Professor Michael Reiss, said:

鈥淓ach generation seems to have less contact with the outdoors than the preceding one. We owe it to all young people to reverse this trend 鈥� for their sakes, for our sakes and for nature鈥檚 sake.鈥�

Media contact

Rowan Walker, 果冻影院 Media Relations
+44 (0)20 7679 9041
rowan.walker@ucl.ac.uk

Links

• Read the report: 鈥樷��
• Department of Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment