‘Play is being squeezed out of children’s lives’ – report
Child in the City newsletter (28 February) news shares that a national play strategy is ‘more urgent than ever’, according to a year-long independent inquiry on play's importance to the wellbeing of children in England.
Soft spaces out, stick-fighting in
School Outdoor Learning say that ‘kids want spaces that give them opportunities for open-ended, creative play. So often, nature provides and there are times when we can give a helping hand, either way we need to let kids play and take healthy risks.’ They share this Observer article ( 2 [...]
Connecting with trees
Here is a Finding Nature post From Access to Celebration: Building Our Bond with Nature (30 January 2025) to enjoy. It shares a graphic that celebrates our connections with trees – their benefits, governance and how people value them.
How even just 15 minutes in nature can boost your wellbeing
This article in The Conversation (2 January 2025) describes how spending time outdoors can help improve your mood, concentration and heart health. A good aim to consider for children and young people returning to school.
A walk to the river: nature and student mental health
The author L. Beavington explores outdoor learning for post-secondary students and the many health benefits of nature experience and engaging with nature. Read the article abstract (published online 13 October 2024) in the Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning.
Good nature – watch Kathy Willis via RSA REPLAY
Watch this replay of this event on YouTube, which explores the new science of how nature improves health, happiness and longevity. Professor Kathy Willis is a leading expert in biodiversity and former Director of Science at the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew. Join the RSA and discover groundbreaking insights on [...]
Good nature – RSA Public Talk 29 October 1800 – 1900h
Explore the new science of how nature improves health, happiness and longevity. Join this RSA talk and discover groundbreaking insights on how direct interactions with nature - seeing, smelling, and touching - can dramatically improve physical health. Learn how cedar boosts your immune system, pine scent calms your heart rate, [...]
Connection to nature helps your mental health
Read this Mental Health Foundation Report 2021 ‘Nature: How connecting with nature benefits our mental health’. The key message of this research evidence is a need to focusing on how people can tune in and connect with ‘everyday’ nature close to home through simple activities.
