The large majority (73%) of people in Britain agree that greater access to nature in school can improve children’s happiness and wellbeing, reveals the Nature Premium today (Thursday 24 March).
The survey of 2,000 UK adults shows that three in four (74%) believe access to nature at school would improve young people’s quality of life and four in five (79%) believe that no matter their socio-economic background, children and young people should have equal access to regular nature experiences.
The results come as the Nature Premium campaign calls for the Government to guarantee that all children will benefit from having access to nature while in education, with additional funding and support to level up access for those who need it most. The Nature Premium would ensure fairness to all children and remove the iniquity of access to nature that has become apparent during coronavirus lockdowns.
These lockdowns and their consequent school closures have had a devastating impact on children and young people, many of whom are now facing an epidemic of educational inequality, increased safeguarding risks, an adverse effect on their long-term life chances, and a worsening mental health crisis.
In the last three years, the likelihood of young people having a mental health problem has increased by 50% and one in six 6-to-16-year-olds now have a probable mental health disorder, alongside increased levels of distress, worry, and anxiety. Research has also found that heavy social media use is associated with worse mental health outcomes, such as low self-esteem.
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Posted On: 28/03/2022