The National Education Nature Park was launched last year by the Department for Education, the Natural History Museum, the Royal Horticultural Society and partners.
This offers children and young people the opportunity to take hands-on action to improve biodiversity and tackle climate change. In just one year, we have seen that 1 in 8 schools and colleges in England have already signed up to take part.
Schools, colleges and nurseries that sign up will have access to a range of resources including digital tools, classroom activities, and a virtual nature park bringing together the green spaces of all settings on to a national map.
Here’s everything you need to know about the National Education Nature Park, from how it works, to where to sign up.
What is the National Education Nature Park?
The National Education Nature Park is helping children and young people around the country connect to the natural world, especially in urban and nature-deprived areas, by tracking their local environment through a virtual map across England.
Whether it’s through growing pollinator-friendly plants, or creating habitats, the Nature Park is inspiring young people to take action to engage with nature in their local area.
The data students upload to the system will be used by scientists at the Natural History Museum for research into nature recovery. The great thing about the Nature Park is that you don’t need to have any existing green space to get involved – you can start with a window box or a hanging basket!
Children and young people are then encouraged to follow this activity on an online, interactive map, which will track the collective difference being made for nature across the education estate.
There is also £7.5 million of funding available this academic year to help disadvantaged schools in nature-deprived areas to get involved. A list of the eligible settings and the eligibility criteria can be found here.
If you think you’re eligible and have not heard, please email natureparkgrants@rhs.org.uk.
How can my school sign up to the National Education Nature Park?
Teaching and non-teaching staff from nurseries, schools and colleges can register their education setting for free by submitting the form here.
Nearly 4000 schools, colleges and nurseries have already signed up.
How does the National Education Nature Park link to the curriculum?
Every school setting that registers on the website to join the Nature Park can now access free learning resources and guidance, linked with the National Curriculum, to help them work with children and young people to take positive action for the environment.
Actions pupils could take include:
- increasing the biodiversity of their sites
- developing their climate and nature knowledge
- gaining green skills
- Contribute to scientific research by helping to map the school estate, one of the most under recorded urban habitats.
The library of resources will grow over time, with new digital tools and community science guidance becoming available over the next academic year.
These resources have been designed with teachers and nature experts to support teaching and learning about the natural environment and climate change.
What tools are available?
The partnership has worked with GIS mapping software company, Esri UK, to devise digital tools for use by children and young people, which can be accessed through mobile apps and online.
These tools will help participants to map the biodiversity of their school grounds and how it changes over time, boosting skills in mapping, numeracy and spatial awareness.
By uploading details of their sites to a nationwide database, participants will also be contributing to globally important research on national biodiversity.