Part of the Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy (DfE, 2022), the initiative is aimed at developing young people’s green skills and enhancing their understanding of biodiversity and knowledge of climate change.
At the same time, activities undertaken via the initiative will improve the biodiversity and sustainability of the school estate and support the teaching of climate education.
It is being run by the Natural History Museum and the Royal Horticultural Society among other partners and national roll-out launched this week after a successful pilot project in selected schools.
The initiative will see students taking on a range of activities and projects, including building rain gardens, installing bird boxes, and growing pollinator-friendly plants.
The land from schools in England forms an area the equivalent to twice the size of Birmingham and the idea is that the schools taking part will become part of a network of spaces across England that together form the National Education Nature Park.
Once schools have registered, they can access the programme and put their school on the nature park map. The programme offers activities to get started and a library of free climate education resources which have been quality-assured by the Royal Meteorological Society.
Dr Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum, said: “Together with our partners, we are creating opportunities for every child and young person in England to use practical science and make actionable changes in their learning environments, to have a positive impact on biodiversity on a national scale.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what difference it will make to nature across the country and to the programme helping to create a new generation of advocates for the planet.”
Clare Matterson, director general of the Royal Horticultural Society, said: “With the world facing multiple crises, from the climate emergency to biodiversity loss, gardening can be integral to addressing them. Through gardening and development of practical and digital skills, we want to empower children and young people to make their nurseries, schools and colleges better places for people, wildlife and the planet. Saving the world starts at our fingertips.”
The nature park initiative will be complemented by the Climate Action Awards. Developed by the Royal Society, the awards will roll-out in January 2024 and will recognise schools and colleges that have brought about change at an institutional level and which have supported their students in developing green skills and championing nature.
- Schools, colleges and nurseries can register for the National Education Nature Park at educationnaturepark.org.uk
- Details of the Hidden Nature Challenge can be found via https://tinyurl.com/mryrfym3
- DfE: Sustainability and climate change strategy, 2022: gov.uk/government/publications/sustainability-and-climate-change-strategy