Young People and Nature

I am a young person, 21 to be precise. And I love nature. Granted we are few and far between, but we are out there. We’ve all read the shocking reports – you know, that one saying that only 1 in 5 kids climb trees nowadays. So if you’ve all finished falling off your chairs in disbelief let us address problems rather than write long reports about them

I firmly believe that amid an ocean of touch screen devices there are literally thousands of young people who have the potential to become fantastic naturalists. But how can young people who have never been given the opportunity to experience nature, be expected to discover it on their own?

Young people today are not made aware of the opportunities and experiences that are available to them. The ones who have already identified their interest in wildlife will seek out experiences on their own. And possibly go on to study or work in conservation - which is great. But just remember that the future of our environment doesn’t just depend on scientists – it depends on the gestures of everyday people getting up in the morning and feeding their garden birds because they care. Because at some point in their life something or somebody inspired them to appreciate the natural world.

There is a distinct stereotype among young people that being interested in bird watching means you must be elderly and dress like a librarian. Now I’m not suggesting you go and throw anyway your favourite corduroy trousers, but perhaps this is a two-way thing. Stop succumbing to your allocated stereotype so readily. Don’t dismiss a young person’s potential just because they don’t own a pair of binoculars or wear hiking boots 365 days a year. I can guarantee you there’s a receptionist somewhere with the potential to become an incredible wildlife photographer. And there’s a supermarket tiller somewhere with the potential to become a great birder – even if they don’t know it yet.

I challenge you readers to approach a young person who you never dreamed would be interested in nature. Show them just a little bit of your passion for wildlife – ask a question, show a photograph, discuss a news article. At the very least you’ll get a sympathetic or slightly bewildered expression. And at the very best you may just plant that tiny seed of inspiration. I can tell you now, young people aren’t going to miraculously start turning up at your wildlife groups. You’re going to have to go to them. But if you really care about the future of conservation and preserving your hard work, you’ll do that right?

Additionally, I challenge the secondary education system to stop failing our young people. Stop measuring their successes on their ability to play sport and achieve A’s in mathematics. Why aren’t you compulsorily teaching environmental issues alongside road safety and sex education? Issues such as climate change and fracking, which are likely to affect the next generation during their lifetime. Okay so you’ve got your football clubs, but where are your gardening clubs, vegetable allotments, bird watching groups, green committees, science clubs, hill walking groups…. The list goes on.

At the risk of sounding like I’m preaching a sermon – go out into your local communities and reconnect the young with nature. Send information to your local high schools notifying them of local groups and events. Hell, offer to run an after-school club yourself. I don’t know a primary school child who isn’t fascinated by animals; the test is to maintain that interest throughout secondary school and into adulthood. Write to your local councils urging them to offer support and funding. It will take a monumental collective effort, but I’m confident we naturalists are a hard working bunch. Our responsibilities lie not only in the protection of wildlife, but also in the preparation of those who will one day take our place.