Children losing touch with nature

13
Aug
2010

The National Trust is encouraging children to play outdoors

A new National Trust survey has revealed that children are spending 60 per cent less time in nature than their parents did at the same age.

Nearly two out of three parents recall their first happy childhood memory being out in the wilds, whereas only one in three children can bring to mind such natural memories.

Good news

But the good news is that that in this study of 1,000 parents and children, nearly every adult (96 per cent) and child (94 per cent) wanted to spend more time in nature.

With the summer holidays upon us, the National Trust has plans to help them do just that.

From den building to pond dipping, bug hunts to bat watching, this summer there are more than 1,000 wild events on offer at our properties across the country, as part of our ‘Wild Child’ campaign.

Matthew Oates, Nature Conservation Adviser at the National Trust, said: "My personal epiphany moment, when I became well and truly hooked on nature, happened before I was five years old. I vividly remember being shown an exquisite willow warbler's nest with miniscule eggs. A chance childhood encounter became a wonderful, lifelong passion.

With mounting evidence that children can suffer both physically and mentally from a ‘nature-deficit disorder’, we’re doing everything we can to bring young people and nature back together. May they have millions of magic moments."

Wild child

Children can discover their very own wild moments at National Trust ‘Wild Child’ events across the summer. Find out more at www.wild-child.org.uk.

They can also share their experience of going wild outdoors and enter a competition to be a National Trust Ranger for the day. Find out more at www.wild-child.org.uk/competition.