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The need to reconnect young people with nature

For many young people, growing up with the absence of nature and a lack of access to green spaces can be extremely challenging - so why not take classroom lessons outdoors? Ashleigh Carter, social media intern at The Wildlife Trusts explains how a Natural History GSCE could help.

For many young people, growing up with the absence of nature and a lack of access to green spaces can be extremely challenging - so why not take classroom lessons outdoors? These experiences will offer the chance for young people to learn about the natural world as well as learning surrounded by it. How can we expect our younger generations to take action for the planet when they have had little or no experience of just being in nature? A Natural History GCSE could offer this in multiple ways, including field study opportunities for all.

On the 1st of December a Westminster Hall debate took place to discuss the proposed introduction of a Natural History GCSE. This revolutionary qualification is designed to sit within the secondary curriculum in England, allowing students to study nature, the environment and the critical links between climate change and species and habitat depletion. Conservative MP for Eastbourne Caroline Ansell told MPs “Our young people today are caught up in an unhappy paradox: whilst their concern for the natural world is greater than ever before, their access to nature, to discover its magic, and marvel at its wonder is much reduced.” She referred to a study by Bath University which found that three-quarters of young people in the UK are worried about the future of the planet, but to the contrary of this many young people can no longer identify common wildlife, with one study finding that 83% of five to 16-year-olds “could not identify a bumblebee”.

Seashore wildlife guide
Seashore wildlife guide

As a 22-year-old myself, looking back I never had the opportunity to learn in or about nature nearly as much as I should have or wanted to at school. My interests in the environment progressed as I became older and could choose what to learn about in my free time. The younger me found nature fascinating and I knew that there was an increasing amount of frightening environmental issues happening around the world, but my knowledge of how to tackle them was scarce and I never had the support to learn more about important things like climate change. If I could go back and redo my education experience, I would definitely have taken the Natural History GCSE if the opportunity were there, but that’s just me. What if you don’t already have an interest in nature?

Bee on a flower

Ashleigh Carter

A generation of young people are inheriting a world that is in jeopardy and urgently needs human activity to change. We need to slow the decline of our natural world, to stop the destruction of our homes and learn how to adapt to a new way of life where the climate has made permanent changes. Whether we are interested in nature or not doesn’t really matter. What matters is that young people feel empowered and have the knowledge they need to take action and make their voices heard in the fight against climate change. 

I feel that a Natural History GCSE would be a fantastic and eye-opening opportunity to learn about why nature is key to our health and happiness, and why it is so important that we look after our planet. By giving young people the chance to study the Natural History GCSE it equips them with the knowledge to make informed choices about their future and the environment. To open this subject to those who are not as interested in nature and the environment I think it is important for all schools to be taking more lessons outdoors. Schools can be the place where all young people get equal access to green space, time outdoors and essential contact with the natural work. This will help them to understand the effects of nature and feel the benefits of spending time outside. By doing this more people will feel connected to nature and therefore want to learn more about it to protect it.

Buttercups in a meadow

Ashleigh Carter

As stated by naturalist and initiator of the campaign Mary Colwell during the Cambridge Assessment Network seminar “A GCSE in Natural History would reconnect our young people with the natural world around them. Not just because it’s fascinating, not just because it’s got benefits for mental health, but because we’ll need these young people to create a world we can all live in, a vibrant and healthy planet.”

In response to Covid-19 now more than ever, young people appreciate the outdoors and how the environment benefits our physical and mental health, but we still don’t have a good enough understanding to collectively make the changes needed. We are ready to be equipped and empowered with the knowledge about our wonderful world and what the future for our planet could be. The Our Bright Future Programme is supporting an essential call for more opportunities for young people to learn in and about nature. You can get involved here by supporting young people’s demand for more outdoor learning.

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