Rebekah Stackhouse, RSPB Scotland's Education and Youth Programmes Manager, reminds us that a connection to nature begins on our doorsteps.
A Very Hungry Caterpillar...
Wiggling towards a greater connection with nature
So, what did you have for breakfast this morning? Whilst I was eating up my warm and toasty porridge, I was watching the chilly morning outside get slowly brighter through the clouds. As the days are getting darker, my mind definitely turns to thoughts of eating lovely stodgy meals (and maybe some of the cakes and pies in the Great British Bake Off!)
When I was little, one of my favourite books was The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Looking at all the interesting meals he munches through on his way to becoming a beautiful butterfly (although not scientifically accurate, perhaps!) always inspired me, not only to try my hand at making some of the delicious dishes on offer, but also to see if I could get outdoors and find my own hungry caterpillars to see first-hand. The best way to connect to the natural world is to find out what’s nearby first!
This connection to nature was, luckily, a habit of my childhood. In Autumn, whether out and about crunching and swooshing through autumn leaves, making sand pictures on windy and rainy Scottish beaches; or indoors sheltering from the weather, baking butterfly cakes, making hedgehog homes, and reading stories (I personally recommend Wind in the Willows!), I loved the autumn contrasts of wet and dry, warm and chilly.
The RSPB have now developed a brand new approach to measure how connected children are to nature, working with leading academics at the University of Essex. It comes as a result of growing concerns over generations of children with little or no contact with the natural world and wildlife, which is one of the biggest threats to UK nature.
In the coming months, we will research the connection to nature of children from 8-12yrs from across the UK. We’ll be able to see what children in Scotland understand of their connection to nature, which means that in partnership with others we will be able to support greater connection to nature for children and young people across the country. Childhood has changed, even since I was reading books and using autumn leaves to make prints in paint – but young people can still get outdoors and make that connection, we just need to find out how.
Why not find out today whether you are a hungry caterpillar who would like to find out more, or a beautiful butterfly that can step up for nature and connect others to the great outdoors? Even better, share your pictures of what getting outdoors means to you with #getoutdoors !