This report (2023) from Natural England presents the ‘Nature Nurtures: Wild Walks’ project, piloted by London Wildlife Trust and Black Girls Hike. This facilitated and encouraged young women aged between 16 and 25 from Black, Asian and minoritized ethnic backgrounds to engage with nature.
The report explores the context around young women’s experience of nature, as limited due to high safety fears outdoors, and the negative impact on mental health seen in young women, perhaps due to a disengagement with the outdoors.
The report concludes that the project was overwhelmingly positive and created a sense of community among the participants, sparked an interest in nature, and found a need for representative female role models to encourage young women to feel safe and included in green spaces.
