£800K Generation Green 2 project brings young people to nature

The Field Studies Council is one of the key organisations involved in the Generation Green 2 project, which is set to provide over 41,500 nature connection experiences to young people by next spring.

The initiative aims to offer opportunities to those who might otherwise miss out on the chance to explore the outdoors.

The charity is expecting to welcome nearly 4,000 young people to its centres, including Flatford Mill in East Bergholt, after being awarded almost £800,000 in funding.

The charity's other sites in Shropshire, Cumbria, the Lake District, Devon, Exmoor, Surrey, and Buckinghamshire will also be used for the project.

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Mark Castle, CEO of the Field Studies Council, said: “Through this project, the Field Studies Council is inspiring thousands of young people to access nature for the first time and ignite that vital spark of curiosity in the world around them.

“Over recent months, we’ve already seen their eyes widen, horizons expand, and possibilities multiply for their future relationship with the natural environment."

Generation Green 2 is the second initiative by the Access Unlimited coalition, comprising YHA (England & Wales) as the project lead and partners, The Outward Bound Trust, Scouts, Girlguiding, nine English National Parks, and the National Landscapes Association.

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The project is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

It aims to address major inequalities in access to nature, cultivate a wider interest in green spaces, and foster lifelong wellbeing benefits among participants.

The Field Studies Council's sessions are held at several of its study sites located in or near National Parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

For more information about the Field Studies Council, visit their website.