Following the launch of the State of Nature report, I am keen to stimulate a debate about what else we need to do to live in harmony with nature. Over the next few weeks, people from differing perspectives will propose their One Big Thing for Nature. Today, I am delighted to welcome Jon Nott, General Secretary of Woodcraft Folk, the co-operative children and young people’s movement.
Creepy crawlies were my gateway to an interest in nature as a child in the 1970s. Lifting rotting logs on walks down a former railway track near my home to watch the woodlice scurry and picking caterpillars off the cabbages on my Grandad’s allotment. Then came an interest in plants, particularly trees that could be climbed (or which dropped conkers) or bushes which attracted butterflies. I didn’t know what an eco-system was at the time, but by exploring what you would find in amongst the roots of a tree, which insects were attracted to the flowers and which birds nested there, I developed a fascination with the inter-relatedness of living things.
How different from the childhood experiences of many born in the 21st century, whose experience of nature is mediated, managed and controlled by parents with a fear of even partially wild places such as the woodland in the local park or the waste ground reclaimed by weeds. George Monbiot has called for “rewilding” as a response to the devastation of our natural environment. I think we need to complement this with a “rewilding” of human society, starting with childhood.
Our over-protective approach to children says that it is better to keep them indoors in front of the TV or the computer than let them get a few bumps and scrapes learning how to climb trees or pay for the juiciest blackberries with a few scratches on the arms or snags in their clothes, better to risk obesity than nettlerash exploring a local ‘wilderness’ with their friends.
Yes, there are dangers, but there is a danger in wrapping our children in cotton wool as well. A key component of safeguarding children is teaching them to understand risk and react appropriately - not to avoid it at all costs. Experience in other fields, such as traffic management, show that seemingly counter-intuitive schemes, such as reverting to mixed spaces where motor traffic and pedestrians intermingle, raise awareness and reduce risks.
Children who develop a love and respect for nature through their own experience will grow up to be far better advocates for defending biodiversity than those who only watch David Attenborough’s wonderful TV programmes (of course it does no harm to do both). We've seen that happen in many Woodcraft Folk projects, for example the Wokingham Action Project.
That’s why I’d urge parents and teachers to take the opportunity to explore nature with their children. Whether that’s through local groups like Woodcraft Folk, Young Ornithologists or Ramblers, or independently using brilliant guides such as the National Trusts’ 50 things to do before you’re eleven and three-quarters.
If you really get the bug, then bushcraft activities and Forest Schools are an excellent way for children to develop a deeper relationship with their natural environment while learning valuable skills.
The immediate benefits of great fun, growing self-confidence and exercise that’s nothing like PE are obvious, but I hope we’ll also be laying the foundations for a new generation of nature defenders. The State of Nature report certainly shows that we need them.
Do you agree with Jon? And what would be your One Big Thing for Nature?
It would be great to hear your views.
I find it hard to disagree with any of this !
Thought from Twitter from @wildschools:
great blog. You might like this interesting article in the NY Times recently- A Child's Wild Kingdom - http://nyti.ms/18nDOEd
I'm all in favour of giving young people first hand exposure to nature as a basis for encouraging a love and respect for the natural world. Alas, the threat to nature is not only compelling, it is also immediate and I fear that by the time our young people carry their environmental responsibility into positions of influence, more than the (wild) horse will have bolted. Alas, it may also prove difficult to 'rewild' our politicians and industry leaders by encouraging them to climb trees, scrape about for beetles or pond dip; and even if we could would this win hearts and minds? What it is within our power to do, however, is offer every single one of them the 'rewilding' experience of a conducted, inspirational 'nature walk' on a RSPB reserve, as I experienced recently. 'Love of nature' might not occur instantly (it may or may not follow), but who could fail to have respect for a bird, weighing less than a bag of crisps, that had just returned from a 6,000 or so mile solitary migration from sub-saharan africa.
Couldn't agree more, Jon - and this isn't just a bit of fringe 'fun' as many adults probably see it. When the Forestry Commission opened the Moors Valley Playtrail in 1990 I came to realise that as well as having a great time, children were gaining physical confidence as they tested themselves in a safe environment, social skills as they interacted with other children, and a happy contact with nature - no problem getting them to do this 1 1/2 mile walk without complaining. As you well know, its the same with activities like Forest School - so much more than the fun in the forest too many people see it as.
The moors Valley playtrail is all marvellous, functional animal sculptures children can play on - but as the years have gone by, the Forestry Commission have reduced the formality of play provision - a sand pit, a bundle of cut branches may actually be better - giving children the scope for their amazing imaginations. And, as you'll know very well, the 'can't get them away from the computer screen' is rubbish - if children are given the chance they'll be out there on their mountain bikes. What we have to do now is bring that countryside to more and more communities doorsteps.
I totally agree with Jon, this is much how I had my first contacts with nature and how I learnt to appreciate it.
I recently visited Poland ,on a bird watching trip where, on one day, we visited a fish farm. We walked across some wobbly bridges that had the odd plank missing but had a really enjoyable morning. Walking across the bridges was perfectly safe as long as one was sensible. We all reflected that in the UK all those bridges would have been roped off with hazard tape for health and safety. As a result all our enjoyment of nature that morning would have been lost.