Over a quarter of schools in England are transforming their sites for nature

Over a quarter of all schools and colleges across England have come together to create a network of green spaces to improve their outdoor site for thousands of young people. Across the country, children are mapping, digging, planting, planning, learning and sharing. These student-led improvements have boosted wellbeing, enriched outdoor learning, encouraged pupil responsibility and provided real-life context for curriculum subjects.

The National Education Nature Park, commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) and led by the Natural History Museum (NHM) working with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and additional partners, sees young people creating a network of nature-rich spaces on school sites across the country by turning them from ‘grey to green’ through creating new habitats such as ponds, green walls and grasslands. 

As the third academic year of the National Education Nature Park begins, the Natural History Museum has released some key highlights to demonstrate the success of the programme across settings in England:

• More than 1 in 4 primary and secondary schools registered

• 7,500 schools, nurseries and colleges registered

• More than 13 million square metres of habitat mapped across the education estate

• More than 1,100 schools, nurseries and colleges mapping their habitat

• Over £12 million in grants awarded to over 1,250 schools and nurseries

The overarching goal of the National Education Nature Park is to empower every child and young person in England, through their place of learning, to take action to make a positive difference to both their own and nature’s future by developing a connection to nature, understanding the threats facing it and feeling able to act for nature. The project puts nature at the heart of the curriculum with resources across subject areas and key stages, with children taking part developing both green and digital skills.

Dr Jess Tipton, Head of the National Education Nature Park at the NHM said, “We’re incredibly proud of the young people and educators who have driven real change over the past two years. It’s inspiring to see over a quarter of schools nationwide now taking part, transforming their spaces however small and actively addressing biodiversity loss. This academic year, we’re aiming even higher, helping schools embed a culture where nature is at the heart of everyday learning. We’re also thrilled to be expanding the programme to include early years, with a specially adapted version that ensures the youngest learners can begin to make a positive difference to both their own and nature’s future from the very start.”

The programme is supported by grants from the Department for Education and administered by the RHS and regional teams working across all nine regions of England. Regionally, the programme’s had a strong uptake with the following registration rates across eligible settings:

• North East 21%

• North West 18%

• Yorkshire and the Humber 17%

• West Midlands 18%

• East Midlands 17%

• East of England 14%

• London 9%

• South West 12%

• South East 13%

At Kings Rise Academy in Birmingham, a once derelict bit of playground is now a thriving wildflower meadow. Students showcased their work at a ‘Kings Rise in Bloom’ event and shared plans for a community hub. During a two-hour visit, the West Midlands team observed four butterfly species. At Keyham Barton Catholic Primary School in Plymouth, a neglected tarmac corner became a calm, plant-rich space through collaboration with the Tree Council. Ten student council pupils led the design, supported by the whole school. Year 4 and 5 pupils grew vegetables through the Young Marketeers project and sold them at Plymouth Market.

In its first two years, the programme awarded more than £12 million in DfE grant funding to over 1,250 schools, nurseries and colleges. A further £3 million has now been announced to support another 1,000 eligible education settings. Funding can be used for gardening and fieldwork equipment, and for specialist support with installation and consultation. Those eligible for these grants have been selected by the DfE based on being in areas with higher levels of deprivation and lower access to green space.

Education Minister, Josh MacAlister, said: “From new ponds and green walls to diverse wildlife patches and water butts, thousands of children are now connecting with nature through our National Education Nature Park programme.

"This government is taking wide ranging action to break down barriers to opportunity – including by rebuilding 750 schools to be climate resilient, investing £100 million in sports facilities in schools and communities across the UK, and working to make sure that all children and young people have access to a variety of enriching experiences at school.”

Nic Buckley, Head of Learning at The RHS added, “We are delighted to see that grants administered by the RHS have in the past year enabled many more young people across the country to get outdoors and connect with nature. From creating meadows and planting fruit trees to providing habitats for pollinators, the Nature Park programme is equipping the next generation with invaluable green skills and a sense of wonder for the natural world."

The programme has recently reached the milestone of more than 1,100 schools creating a map of the habitats on their site, recording an area of over 13 million square metres, equating to around 10,400 Olympic-size swimming pools. From recording trees and hedges, grassy areas, or even bare ground, mapping existing habitats is the exciting first step in young people understanding what their education site offers for nature, and choosing how to make meaningful improvements.

So far, students have made 1,200 habitat improvements to achieve biodiversity gains and give nature a boost including,

• Over 200 new ponds or bog gardens

• Over 200 water butts installed

• Over 100 wildflower patches planted

• 2 wheelchair – accessible raised planters

“The impact on our young people has been transformational, and self-sustaining. It has supported staff and student wellbeing and is a project that will last for years and years” said a Mumin Humayun, Principal at Stockwood Park Academy in Luton.

When a school, nursery or college takes part in the Nature Park, they’re joining a research team of thousands and contributing to trailblazing global biodiversity research. As well as being an education programme, the Nature Park is a major community science project investigating what’s living and growing on learning sites and how we can best improve them for nature.

Recently, the Natural History Museum welcomed its Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to explore the newly developed gardens and hear from students from Nature Park schools transforming their grounds. Their Royal Highnesses joined local children from Kender Primary School, Lewisham school taking part in Museum learning activities, before meeting students from Co-op Academy Manchester who have been creating new habitats on their school grounds.

Schools, nurseries and colleges in England can register for the Nature Park programme and begin their journey by heading to www.educationnaturepark.org.uk.

-ENDS-

Notes to editors

For more information please contact the NHM press office:  

Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5654 / 07799690151  

Email: press@nhm.ac.uk  

National Education Nature Park    

The National Education Nature Park is a free programme for all schools, nurseries and colleges in England that empowers children and young people to make a positive difference to both their own and to nature’s future.   

• Children and young people are leading the way in creating a network of green spaces in schools, nurseries and colleges in England to improve them for people and wildlife   

• Through turning grey spaces green, young people are boosting biodiversity, all while connecting to nature, and developing vital green and digital skills for their futures   

• Every small act makes a big impact: by monitoring wildlife on their sites and uploading their findings, young people see the collective difference they are making on an online map, and contribute to scientific research on nature recovery   

• A growing library of free, quality-assured, curriculum-linked resources help teachers put nature at the heart of education across all subject areas and key stages   

Partners for nature     

The National Education Nature Park has been commissioned by the Department for Education, and is delivered by a partnership led by the Natural History Museum with the Royal Horticultural Society supported by Learning Through Landscapes, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, National Biodiversity Network Trust, the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), Royal Society and Manchester Metropolitan University. Esri UK is the geospatial technology partner in the programme, providing the digital mapping platform.      

Department for Education’s sustainability and climate change strategy   

Following the publication of its Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, the Department for Education has commissioned three initiatives that support education settings on their sustainability journey and embed climate and nature into everyday teaching and learning.   

These complementary initiatives include access to support to get started or prioritise next steps on the sustainability journey through the online Sustainability Support for Education service; access to experts to help planning and delivery of climate action plans through the Climate Ambassadors programme and the Let’s Go Zero Climate Action Advisors; and digital tools and resources to empower children and young people to lead the way in decision making and action in their setting as part of their journey through the National Education Nature Park.  

About the Natural History Museum  

The Natural History Museum is a world-leading scientific research centre and one of the world’s most visited museums. Our mission is to create advocates for the planet – people who act for nature.

Our 400 scientists are finding solutions to the planetary emergency - from reversing biodiversity loss to resourcing the green economy.

We are seeking an additional £150 million to transform our South Kensington building: placing our groundbreaking research at its heart, revitalising four existing galleries, opening two new magnificent galleries and delighting 1 million more visitors a year with the wonders of the natural world.

About the RHS

We’re the UK’s gardening charity, helping people and plants to grow.

Our mission is to be there on people’s lifelong journey with gardening – to bring happiness, health, stronger communities and a thriving natural world.

With 220 years of experience, we support gardeners of all ages with expert advice, community and schools projects, scientific research, professional qualifications, our five RHS Gardens, and events including the iconic RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

For more information visit www.rhs.org.uk.

RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262

About Esri UK   

Esri UK is a GIS (Geographic Information System) software company, developing a range of geospatial solutions for digital mapping and spatial analysis. Customers include the Environment Agency, Cabinet Office, Vodafone and the National Trust. The company’s Education programme provides free access to its ArcGIS software, teaching resources and training for all UK schools. Currently used by over 3,500 schools and 135 universities across the UK, Esri’s software helps students learn new skills.  

For more information please visit: www.esriuk.com   

About Learning Through Landscapes  

Learning through Landscapes is the UK’s leading outdoor learning and play charity, with a UK-wide team of experienced outdoor educators and school grounds designers. Our vision is a society where outdoor learning and play are recognised as a fundamental part of education and every child benefits from regular time outdoors as part of their school day. Our work is dedicated to supporting schools in achieving this vision through three main avenues:   

• We provide resources, training, and funding to help educators develop the skills and confidence to deliver curriculum-led outdoor learning and high-quality outdoor play at school.    

• We champion the importance of rich outdoor environments for learning and play, supporting the development of climate-ready, future-proof school grounds through our projects and consultation work.    

• Through projects like My School, My Planet, we nurture nature connection in children by providing valuable outdoor experiences to pupils who typically spend the least time in the natural world.    

For over 30 years, we’ve been at the forefront of developing and delivering innovative projects, supporting schools and early years settings with our unrivalled knowledge and expertise. We work closely with partners across the UK and internationally to advocate for outdoor learning and play in every school day, helping every child enjoy the benefits of learning and playing outdoors.   

About the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology  

The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) is a leading independent research institute dedicated to understanding and transforming how we interact with the natural world. With over 600 researchers, we tackle the urgent environmental challenges of our time, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Our evidence-based insights empower governments, businesses, and communities to make informed decisions, shaping a future where both nature and people thrive.    

About the National Biodiversity Network Trust  

The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Trust is a small charity with a big plan – to make data work for nature. For more than twenty years we’ve been making biodiversity data accessible, to support better decisions about the natural world and to connect people with nature. But there’s so much more to do – and the urgency is greater than ever. It’s estimated that as little as 50% of existing biodiversity data is available to those who need it. If we’re to succeed in reversing the collapse of biodiversity, our decisions must be based on the most complete and highest-quality evidence. This is where the NBN Trust, our network and our members have a unique and vital role to play.   

https://nbn.org.uk/  https://nbnatlas.org    

About the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)  

The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) is the learned society and professional body for geography. Formed in 1830 for 'the advancement of geographical science', today we deliver this objective through developing, supporting and promoting geographical research, expeditions and fieldwork, education, professional practice, public engagement, and geography input to policy. We aim to foster an understanding and informed enjoyment of our world. We hold the world's largest private geographical collection and provide public access to it. We have a thriving Fellowship and Membership and offer the professional accreditation 'Chartered Geographer’. www.rgs.org   

About the Royal Society  

The Royal Society is a Fellowship of many of the world’s most distinguished scientists drawn from all areas of science, engineering, and medicine. The Society’s fundamental purpose, as it has been since its foundation in 1660, is to recognise, promote, and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity. http://royalsociety.org/     
Follow the Royal Society on Twitter (@royalsociety) or on Facebook (facebook.com/theroyalsociety)  

About Manchester Metropolitan University  

Manchester Metropolitan University is making an impact on Manchester, the UK and beyond, with a driving ambition to discover and disseminate knowledge, and make higher education accessible and beneficial to all those with the passion and ability to succeed. The University, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year, is home to 43,000 students with an alumni network of more than 340,000 graduates. 90% of its research is rated as ‘internationally excellent’ and it has been rated in the top three most sustainable universities in the UK for the past 11 years.