Generation Green 2: £4.5 million project is helping England’s most socially disadvantaged young people make closer connections with nature
PUBLISHED ON: 17 OCTOBER 2024A project which will help more than 25,000 young people living in England’s most socially disadvantaged areas to connect with nature and rural life through nights under the stars and a host of other inspiring experiences is in full swing.
By the end of the project in spring 2025, Generation Green 2 will have delivered more than 41,500 day and overnight nature connection experiences to young people who would otherwise be the least likely demographic in the country to spend time in the nation’s most beautiful landscapes.
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.
The visits encourage nature connection through coast 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 CET.
The NFNPA has received £74,800 to deliver these visits. To find out more about the project and if young people you know are eligible to take part go to: https://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/communities/young-people/schools-and-groups/funded-visits/
This follows on from the first phase of Generation Green which saw the New Forest National Park Authority receive a £65,000 grant to support a Wild Spaces Youth Project and apprentice rangers from 2021 to 2022. Groups of young people aged 11-25 enjoyed 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.
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.
Connections for the future
Poorer communities and people from ethnic minorities in the UK have the worst access to green spaces. Research has shown that 18% of children living in the most deprived areas never spend time in any kind of natural space.
Almost half of the country’s most socially deprived areas are more than 15 miles by road from a protected landscape (such as a National Park or National Landscape), and opportunities to explore these landscapes are hindered by inadequate transport options.
Yet an extensive body of research shows that people who are more connected with nature are usually happier and more likely to report feeling their lives are worthwhile. Nature connection also leads to more willingness to take action to help our wildlife and the environment. In the context of collapsing biodiversity and the climate crisis, closer relationships with nature are more vital than ever before.
Generation Green 2 aims to help disadvantaged young people forge lifelong connections to nature by taking them on multi-day residentials, farm visits, day trips and nights under the stars, all based in National Parks, National Landscapes and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
These experiences will help young people connect with nature, cultivate a sense of care for the countryside, and enjoy the wellbeing benefits of spending time in the outdoors.
This ambitious project is being delivered by the Access Unlimited (AU) Partnership, a unique coalition of not-for-profit youth organisations, school residential outdoor providers, and organisations managing protected landscapes.
The AU coalition includes the YHA (England & Wales), The Outward Bound Trust, Field Studies Council, Girlguiding, Scouts, National Parks England, and the National Landscapes Association. Nine National Park Authorities and eight National Landscapes are involved in course delivery.
High demand
Funding for Generation Green 2 has been provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of its ongoing support of access to nature. It supports key recommendations in the 2019 Landscapes Review by Julian Glover, addressing the need for a wider range of first-time visitors to engage with protected landscapes in order to help make them fit for the future.
Participants in the project will be young people from geographic locations in England falling into the Index of Multiple Deprivation scale (1-3), and through schools that exceed a threshold of 30% of pupils eligible for Pupil Premium funding.
Delivery of Generation Green 2 began in spring this year and has so far enabled almost 6,000 young people to take part in experiences across England. Demand for courses from participating schools and groups has been extremely high and there is currently little remaining availability.
Further information about Generation Green 2 is available here: www.yha.org.uk/generationgreen.
Building on success
This project is the second major initiative delivered by the Access Unlimited coalition.
It will build on the work of the first Generation Green project, a £2.5 million programme which supported another key recommendation of the Glover review by – among other things – widening participation in outdoor-related jobs and volunteering, creating seven apprenticeships, 10 new jobs, a paid internship, 30 YHA Kickstart placements, and 659 skilled volunteer roles.
An independent evaluation carried out by the University of Derby showed that the facilitated day and residential trips which were also a part of the first Generation Green project led to an immediate significant impact in young people’s connection with nature and sense of inclusion in nature. The University of Derby are conducting similar research into the impact of Generation Green 2.
National Parks England Executive Director, Jayne Butler said: ‘National Parks are critical to providing access to green spaces for the nation and we are delighted that through Generation Green 2 thousands of young people will be enabled to connect with nature within our spectacular landscapes.
‘Being alongside nature in National Parks and learning about how we conserve and enhance our natural environment is an inspiring and exciting journey that we want all young people to have a chance to experience.’
YHA (England & Wales) Chief Executive and Chair of the Access Unlimited coalition, James Blake said: ‘Since 1930 YHA has been committed to helping young people connect with nature and the outdoors, especially those with least access.
‘Unique and innovative programmes like Generation Green 2 give us the unique opportunity to work alongside major not-for-profit outdoor education partners to deliver even more life-enhancing experiences across our youth hostel network in England. This project brings the vision of a night under the stars for every child one step closer.’
ENDS
Notes to Editors
This is a 12-month project that builds on the success of the first phase of Generation Green, delivered in 2021/22.
The first phase of Generation Green connected young people to nature, created and saved jobs, and helped build an aspirant workforce for a green recovery post Covid pandemic.
This project aims to connect young people who live in areas of social disadvantage in England with nature in a protected landscape and is funded by Defra. The project will fund day visits and overnight experiences for 25,167 young people in National Parks and National Landscapes, providing 41,521 days and nights under the stars
About Access Unlimited
The Access Unlimited coalition was formed in December 2019 as a coalition of non-for-profit school residential and educational providers.
The coalition includes YHA (England & Wales), The Outward Bound Trust, Scouts, Girlguiding, Field Studies Council, National Landscapes and the 9 National Parks in England. It is led and managed by YHA (England & Wales).
National Landscapes joined the Access Unlimited coalition in 2023.
Its aim is to ensure that there are opportunities for every child and young person to access high quality learning and residential experiences in our protected landscapes.
For further information, please contact:
Carey Davies
Senior Comms Officer, National Parks England
carey.davies@nationalparksengland.org.uk
07483 917689
