A coalition of leading outdoor and youth organisations has written an open letter to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, calling for urgent action to make sure young people from all walks of life can spend time in the countryside – and specifically on residential stays.
The group, known as Access Unlimited, says: “Nature is not a luxury. It is a necessity – for childhood, for community and for the climate.”
The open letter (read it in full here) comes after the end of Generation Green 2, a 12-month project, financed by Defra, that helped nearly 27,000 young people to benefit from an experience in nature.
The data doesn’t lie
An independent review of the Generation Green 2 project by a research group at the University of Derby found that:
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38% of young people on the programme had never been to the countryside before
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57% had never stayed overnight in a rural or natural setting.
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80% would not have had the opportunity without funded support
Some 80% of these children came from deprived areas, and for many, it was their first time away from home or in a natural setting.
Teachers, families and youth workers are reported to have seen big changes in children who take part, including more confidence, better social skills and improved wellbeing.
Outdoor experiences matter
The letter to the Prime Minister highlights that, without new funding, these life-changing experiences may disappear for the next generation.
Access Unlimited, which includes organisations like YHA (England & Wales), Scouts, Girlguiding, National Parks England, The Outward Bound Trust, Field Studies Council and the National Landscapes Association, says this is a crisis that needs immediate attention.
The letter to the Sir Kier Starmer spells out why outdoor experiences matter. It says, “nature-based residential experiences are not only life-enhancing for young people; they are life-changing. And for those from marginalised and disadvantaged backgrounds, they may be life-defining, but so many are missing out on this opportunity.”
The letter adds: “These transformations are the result of hands-on, nature-connection activities provided as part of adventures away from home in protected landscapes.”
Breaking down barriers
But barriers remain. Almost one in five children in the poorest areas never spend time in nature. Many families live far from green spaces, and transport and cost are growing problems.
The organisations warn, “this is not simply a matter of inequality in leisure – it is a matter of environmental and social justice. If we fail to connect the next generation with nature now, we not only jeopardise their health and development, but we also threaten the long-term environmental sustainability of our country.”
Access Unlimited is asking the government for three main things:
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Funding for high-quality, inclusive outdoor learning programmes, especially for disadvantaged communities
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Policies that make outdoor learning a key part of education, health, youth and environment strategies
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Making outdoor learning and residential trips part of the school curriculum for all children
The group’s message is simple: “Every young person deserves residential stays in nature, not just the fortunate few.”
As such, this letter urges Sir Keir Starmer and his government to protect and extend these vital opportunities, so that every child can enjoy the benefits of time outdoors and help care for the natural world in the future.
Backed by MPs
The open letter comes a day after the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Outdoor Recreation and Access to Nature published its report.
In it, MPs made 40 recommendations, calling for access to outdoor environments to be increased and for the right to roam to be passed into law in England.
One of the 10 headline recommendations focused on children spending time outdoors. It says: “Establish a requirement for all children and young people to experience at least one residential outdoor experience, linked to curriculum outcomes at KS2, using Pupil Premium to ensure inclusion to all.”
Our view: LFTO group editor Oli Reed shares his take…
A few years ago, I saw possibly the most depressing statistic I can ever remember – which is that three quarters of UK children spend less time outdoors than prison inmates. And as a parent of two young boys, things like this trouble me a lot.
In my opinion, the two biggest barriers to the outdoors in the UK are access and perception. The reason 38% of kids have never visited the countryside is that their parents either can’t get there or don’t believe they belong there. And that’s what we need to change.
Our local primary school does an amazing job of organising outdoor trips for kids but recently had to cancel a nature reserve visit because the cost of daily coach hire had spiralled to around £1,000. And as a result, it was simply unaffordable.
It’s easy to tell parents their kids should switch off Netflix and go camping instead, but until we can make the outdoors a more affordable and inclusive place, then that’s nothing but a pipe dream.
The benefits of spending time outdoors in terms of physical and mental health are well documented, but exposing kids to nature is about so much more. How about fun? Adventure? Friendship? Confidence? The sense of immense achievement at standing on top of a mountain, climbing your first tree or building your first raft?
The fact that initiatives like this need more funding, better policies and compulsory inclusion in our school curriculums is in no doubt whatsoever. The only question left is, who’s finally going to do something about it?
Want to get your own kids outdoors more? Here are 10 perfect mini mountains for kids and you may also benefit from this guide on how to pack for a hike with kids.