This summer, as some children enjoy long days in gardens, parks and forest walks, many others won’t have that chance.
Access to nature is becoming a privilege, not a right.
Outdoor time at school has halved in a generation, according to a recent report from the Play Commission and only a third reported regular school activities or lessons outside, other than PE.
When not in school, only half of children and young people report regularly spending time in a garden or other outside space.
As a global conservation charity with two conservation zoos with education for all ages at its heart, from pre-school up to postgraduate degrees, we have a unique perspective. We witness the moment children connect with wildlife - the spark of curiosity, the joy of discovery, and the questions that follow.
We also see the barriers: underfunded schools, teachers lacking support and training in outdoor education, and a curriculum that does not prioritise outdoor education.
That’s why we’re using our voice, science, and reach to call for a statutory right to access nature for every school child, because nature isn’t a luxury. It’s essential for children’s mental health, learning, and future.
Why Now?
Children from low-income and ethnic minority backgrounds are the least likely to have access to green space. The ones who need nature the most are least likely to get it.
Nature Works — And the Science Proves It
Nature isn’t just nice to have - it’s vital.
Children who spend regular time in natural spaces show:
- Improved mental health
- Better concentration and memory
- Stronger immune systems
- More emotional resilience
Even a single year of access to green space can result in a 5% increase in working memory and a 1% decrease in inattentiveness, and one study showed a 2.6 point average increase in IQ for every 3% rise in surrounding “greenness.”
We know that you care about children’s access to nature
We recently sent out a public poll, and we found that 9 in 10 respondents thought it was important for children to have access to the outside.
This isn’t just parents who think it’s important for children to spend time learning outdoors during the school day as 88% also agreed.
Adults recognise and want children to spend more time in nature and another survey shows that 91% of children say being in nature makes them "very happy".
If we want children to care about nature, they have to experience it, firsthand, frequently, learning outside.
You can help us make a difference by signing the petition.
Your voice will help us make the case to government: that every child deserves a connection to nature, no matter where they live.