Disadvantaged children connecting with nature in the New Forest

It's part of a £4.5m project to support children from poorer communities

Author: Aaron HarperPublished 21st Oct 2024

The New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA) is helping socially disadvantaged young people build a connection with nature, thanks to a share of a £4.5m project.

Generation Green 2 aims to help young people to connect with natural and rural areas with experiences, including nights under the stars.

It's hoped that by the end of the scheme in Spring 2025, over 41,500 day and night experiences will have been given to those in demographics least likely to spend time in the most natural areas of the country.

The NFNPA has received £74,800 to deliver these visits, which encourage connecting with nature through coastal and river experiences, opportunities to explore the special qualities of the New Forest and an evening under the stars with the NPA Education and Youth and Ranger teams, as well as farm and woodland discovery with Countryside Education Trust (CET).

This current project follows the first phase of Generation Green, where the NFNPA received a £65,000 grant to support a Wild Spaces Youth Project and apprentice rangers from 2021 to 2022.

It also saw groups of young people aged 11-25 enjoy six to 10 day sessions in nature including geocaching and photography to build confidence as well as residential nights at the Youth Hostel in Burley.

As part of Generation Green 2, the New Forest National Park Authority is working with the Countryside Education Trust (CET) in Beaulieu, to provide funded visits for over 600 eligible young people living in areas of social disadvantage to connect with the National Park.

New Forest National Park Authority Chair, David Bence said: "With more than 80% of the UK population being urban, Generation Green 2 provides opportunities to connect young people to nature, many for the first time.

"The importance of this initiative to cultivate a sense of care for the natural environment, not only within our National Park but across the mosaic of protected landscapes, rural and urban communities as well as our city green spaces should not be underestimated".

Countryside Education Trust Chief Executive, Jane Cooper said: "This is a brilliant opportunity for children to experience our farm and woods who wouldn't otherwise be able to visit. We are really grateful for the funding as we are passionate about connecting people with the countryside."

Delivered by a coalition of 24 organisations and authorities across England, Generation Green 2 aims to help address major inequalities in access to nature by cultivating a wider interest in green spaces among the next generation, fostering lifelong wellbeing benefits among participants and opening protected places to a wider demographic.

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