Are you connected?

Did you notice the connection to nature report released this week?

You know, the one that showed just one in five UK children have a realistic ‘connection to nature’. That’s bad, don’t you think? But what can we actually do about it, and what about adults too?

I think back to when I was a kid. I vividly remember my first trip to Minsmere nature reserve. I was seven. As we drove up the entrance lane, a huge red deer stag loomed out of the vegetation, crossed the road and disappeared off into the tangle of branches and bracken. I was hooked. Most of my colleagues they tell similar stories: their interest in nature stems from a childhood where their parents were also interested.

So here’s a few family-friendly ideas to get nature into all our lives:

Bring the nature to you

Giving nature a home in your garden is fun, rewarding and easy to do. Get the whole family involved! It doesn’t have to be expensive and you don’t have to donate your entire garden to wildlife if you don’t want to – there’s room for birds, bees and barbecues in even the smallest of gardens! Visit our Giving Nature a Home website for loads of activities that will bring the nature to you.

Have you ever thought about taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch? It’s the biggest count of British garden birds there is, and has been running every January since 1979. Over 500,000 people take part – why not join them? All you need to do is look out of your window for an hour and count the birds you see. Couldn’t be easier! And what a great way to connect with the wildlife in your garden.

Go on a date

Take the family too! We run Date with Nature sites up and down the country. Many, like peregrines in Chichester, are in the middle of cities or towns. So you can even get your nature fix whilst shopping! Take a look and find one near you.

So, we’ve had nature at home, then nature in the towns and cities. Now, how about a visit to a reserve? There’s over 200 RSPB Nature reserves throughout the UK and loads of them are family friendly. They’re the perfect place for you and your family to get up close and personal with wildlife – like that huge stag that first sparked my interest all those years ago (ok, it wasn’t that long ago!). Check out the events too, from classics like pond dipping (some reserves even have pond dipping for adults) to full blown reserve tours, there actually is something for everyone.

Have fun!

Have you got any ideas on how to connect people with nature? What's your earliest memory of nature? However you decide to experience the UK’s wonderful wildlife, do it with the family so that if this report is re-done in five years time all children (and adults) are more connected than they are today. Together, we can make that happen.