BLOG: The wonder of the outdoors – youth access to nature
Groundwork Youth Advisory Board member, Alice, shares how even in city environments, she was encouraged to explore nature as a child. She relates her everyday life through nature – something that first began in childhood and has continued to develop as she has grown up alongside the formative natural world.
As a child I had the fortune to live very close to large natural spaces in London. Amongst the sprawling city, these pockets of wilderness were an integral part of my childhood and have shaped me in ways I am still discovering.
Nature is an unrestricted space where children can use their innate curiosity to create genuine connections with the ground at their feet. In city environments, natural spaces are often restricted or regulated to small plots, compartmentalised into objects to look at, but not to touch. In the wild expanses of Richmond Park, Bushy Park and the riverside, the small joys of nature were not restricted to just objects to observe. I was encouraged to delve into the soil itself, to identify small bugs, kick piles of leaves and enjoy the fun that nature can bring.
Seasons were also more acute. If the white roses in my garden started to bloom I knew my birthday was coming up and that summer holidays were approaching. If the trees by the riverside started to produce conkers, I knew that Halloween was around the corner. These were small, everyday, mundane things that meant everything.
Now that I am an adult, nature is still a large part of my life. I have actively attempted to bring pollinators to my small garden; I’m dipping my toe into growing my own food; and I still stop and take pictures of flowers on the street if they catch my eye.
I feel I am a more empathetic and patient person because of the nature I have grown up in. It may sound cheesy, but just as flowers take time to grow, so does the human spirit. To grow up alongside the natural world is to nurture the human spirit to be patient, kind and accepting of difference. Every child deserves this opportunity to connect with the world around them, regardless of where they live. Nature is everywhere and is a formative part of child development.
The joy of nature as a child is in how you can see a direct link between the life you are experiencing and the world around you. Humans are not separate from the natural world that holds us together, and that connection as a child is even more apparent.
To be able to play outdoors is unfortunately a privilege when it should be a right. This is where charities like Groundwork come in, to do the important and vital work of giving children the opportunities to engage with nature in a safe and joyful way. If I did not have access to the wonder of the outdoors when I was younger, I would not be the person I am today.
Nature fundamentally changes young people for the better because it gives them the confidence to be in natural spaces and the freedom to experience the pure joy and wonder the wild world can give.
Notes to Editors
For more information please contact: media@groundwork.org.uk
About Groundwork
Groundwork is a federation of charities with a collective mission to take practical action to create a fair and green future in which people, places, and nature thrive. We support communities and businesses to build capacity and resilience in order to tackle hardship, achieve a just transition to net-zero and help nature recover in a way that reduces inequality and leads to healthier, happier lives for all: www.groundwork.org.uk