Recommendation 70

For biodiversity to be protected, it has to be appreciated and valued. But our increasing detachment from nature stops many of us knowing and directly experiencing it. This starts at a young age; children are spending less and less time outdoors. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds and ethnic minorities have particularly low access to green spaces. Education is a crucial lever to address this and mend our relationship with nature. The Government’s Children and Nature Programme went some way in increasing access opportunities, but the impact of the coronavirus has meant even fewer children have had access to nature this year. To address this 126 Biodiversity in the UK: bloom or bust? a transformation in the education system is needed towards one where children from an early age to adulthood are encouraged to experience, celebrate, and learn about nature. Governments, businesses, and organisations also need to recognise the value of nature; this again starts with education.