PlanetArk 8 Jan 10;
LONDON - Young people in Britain are increasingly missing out on the stress-relieving benefits of spending time in nature, Europe's largest wildlife conservation charity said on Thursday.
Britain's Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said it uncovered a worrying trend of "nature starvation" among young Britons when it conducted a study to find out just how important it is for people to connect with the natural world.
The survey of 1,000 people found that only about a third (37 percent) of under 35s feel connected to the natural world, compared with more than half (55 percent) of those aged over 35.
People who grow up with regular access to the natural world often find it therapeutic, feel better mentally and physically and continue enjoying visits to places like nature reserves, parks and forests throughout their lives, the RSPB said.
Such people would also try to introduce family members to these trips too.
"These results are worrying," RSPB President Kate Humble and nature television presenter said in a statement.
"If a child hasn't ever got their hands dirty sifting though soil for bugs, kicked up leaves or been wowed by a cute baby bird, how can we expect them to care about the natural world?"
More than three quarters (76 percent) of respondents said that being out in nature was a great stress reducer and more than half (51 percent) need time in nature to be happy.
"There is simply no substitute for getting outdoors and experiencing nature first hand. If we don't make sure our young people enjoy nature we're taking away something that will help keep them happy and healthy," Humble said.
The RSPB said it provides out of classroom learning for more than 60,000 children, has more than a million members and more than 170,000 junior members called "Wildlife Explorers."
Children not getting enough access to nature warns Kate Humble
Children are not getting enough access to the countryside, Kate Humble, the BBC presenter has warned, after a survey found young people are suffering 'nature starvation'.
Louise Gray, The Telegraph 7 Jan 10;
A survey by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) found just a third of people under 35 feel connected with nature, compared to more than half of the older generation.
The poll found that most people find being out in nature helps to reduce stress and boost happiness levels. In fact more than half of the 1,000 people surveyed said they need time in nature to feel happy and when they feel unhappy they find comfort in the outdoors.
Ms Humble, President of the RSPB and presenter of the BBC's Springwatch, warned that children and young people denied access to nature could suffer "nature starvation".
"These results are worrying. If a child hasn’t ever got their hands dirty sifting though soil for bugs, kicked up leaves or been wowed by a cute baby bird, how can we expect them to care about the natural world?" she asked.
“There is simply no substitute for getting outdoors and experiencing nature first hand. If we don’t make sure our young people enjoy nature we’re taking away something that will help keep them happy and healthy.“
Andy Simpson, Head of Youth and Education at the RSPB, called for better nature education in schools, improved public transport to the countryside and more open spaces.
“We know that if we spark an interest at a young age, they’ll develop an interest that will benefit them for the rest of their lives," he said.
