BLOG: Rooted in Shropshire – how growing up outdoors shaped my love for nature
Groundwork Youth Advisory Board member, Mia, shares how her positive experience with nature as a child shaped how she sees environmental issues today – and the role that young people can play to ensure this is the reality for all children.
I grew up in the heart of Shropshire, where nature wasn’t just scenery – it was part of everyday life. From the rolling Long Mynd hills to muddy riverbanks and quiet woodland paths, the outdoors was our playground. Whether climbing trees at Forest School, collecting conkers on our council estate, or building dens from fallen branches, my childhood was deeply rooted in nature.
Playing outside was foundational. Nature offered freedom, creativity, calm, and curiosity. It’s where I first learned independence, risk-taking, and responsibility. Muddy boots and grazed knees were part of the journey, but so was a profound understanding that I was part of something larger – a living world that deserved curiosity and respect.
Those early experiences shaped how I see nature today. As an adult, I don’t just enjoy being outdoors – I want to learn more. Childhood moments, like spotting birds in hedgerows or building “spider hotels” at school, sparked a lasting respect for the natural world. That muddy, magical start planted the seed for how I now engage with the environment: with reverence and purpose.
What makes these memories powerful is how naturally they fostered a sense of connection and protection. When you’ve watched tadpoles in a pond or heard fox cubs at night, you can’t help but feel protective of those experiences. You begin to understand how fragile and precious they are – and how easily they can be lost. Nature isn’t just something to enjoy; it’s something to learn from, restore, protect, and share.
“This is more than simple nostalgia. Today’s young people must be central to environmental efforts. Too often they’re excluded from decisions about green spaces, climate policy, and land use, or made to feel unwelcome unless they fit a narrow mold of who “belongs” in nature. That needs to change.
Young voices must be heard in councils, schools, and national conversations. Green spaces should be co-cared by communities, not gatekept by tradition. When young people are empowered to care for nature, they become lifelong advocates for it.
My childhood in Shropshire didn’t just give me fond memories – it gave me a mission. I believe every child should have the chance to climb trees, get muddy, and fall in love with the natural world. But more importantly, I believe young people should be seen not as future stewards, but as active guardians of nature right now.
What we need is a cultural shift – away from individual guilt and toward collective care. We need community-led rewilding, equal access to green spaces, and intergenerational collaboration. We need to reimagine nature not as a luxury for some, but as a shared right for all, and listen to collective experience.
This isn’t just my story. It’s about a collective future. One where we protect and restore the natural world together. Let’s give young people the tools, the trust, and the space to lead – and build a greener, more inclusive world for everyone.
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