All children should be able to form positive lasting memories of nature. Environmental inequality is getting worse, but there are opportunities for nature-connected organisations.
Early memories
We asked participants at our recent workshop for CIEEM for their earliest memories of nature. There were some rich responses, such as these.
Building dens (hiding in bushes and looking through the leaves).
Making mushroom prints on paper pre-primary school.
An oak tree and a willow tree which I use to sit with and chat to.
Birdwatching with grandfather.
‘Helping’ my dad in the veg patch.
Making “potions” out of bits of plants and mud etc. with my friends
Selection of memories from CIEEM ‘Unlocking the benefits of nature’ webinar
Should it not be a right for all children to be able to form positive, lasting memories like these? Clearly it should be, but unfortunately it is not.
Environmental inequality
Richard Louv described ‘nature-deficit disorder’ in his 2005 book ‘Last Child in the Woods‘. He described attention disorders, obesity, a dampening of creativity and depression, and created a call to arms that resonated with researchers, policy makers, and lay readers alike.
In 2009, Susan Strife, Liam Downey and others identified a gap in understanding of environmental inequality, and these have been steadily filled in since – including a study published last month by Belgian researchers. This revealed another piece of the puzzle – that for children, living in an urban environment with residential green space was associated with a 2.6 points higher IQ. It was also associated with less aggressive and rule-breaking behaviour.
The Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment report (2018/19) shows a decline over the previous 6 years in the proportion of children spending time outside, particularly for children spending time outside independent of adults. Children from Black Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds (BAME) were 14% less likely to have spent time outside once a week, compared with White children. And the most visited spaces were in towns and cities – underlining their importance for children of all backgrounds, and especially BAME backgrounds.
Reasons stated include:
- a reduction in the perception of the quality of local greenspaces
- a decrease in the proportion of families relying on grandparents to provide childcare
- reasons including traffic and safety
- children finding other ways to spend their leisure time which does not involve the natural environment.
Nature-connected organisations
Our recent article highlighted some steps we can take to address these inequalities long term.
This includes considering the role that nature-connected organisations might play in their wider communities. Embracing local communities, and providing opportunities through the estate and wider landscape for nature connection. Outreach, volunteering, and creating informal play and relaxation spaces are all ways in which organisations might play a part in reducing environmental inequality, enhancing wildlife and wellbeing – and increasing the number of positive memories of nature in society.