Nature Premium

The Nature Premium campaign started in 2020 following a discussion between directors of the Forest School Association (FSA).. The Nature Premium has been developed as an idea that all can support, calling for the government to guarantee regular nature experiences for all children with additional investment to level up those that need it most. The movement describes the Nature Premium as 'An idea whose time has come' and is calling for our children to 'Grow up Greener'.

History and Structure

The Nature Premium was conceived in March 2020, during the first COVID-19 lockdown, by a small group of the Forest School Association Directors. The idea was a direct response to the impacts of COVID-19 and the lockdown restrictions on children who could no longer be outside. In addition they thought the Nature Premium would give children the agency to face the challenges of the climate emergency, biodiversity loss, and mental wellbeing.

The Nature Premium is based on the model of the Sports Premium, introduced in March 2013 under David Cameron's coalition government as a legacy of the 2012 London Olympics. The Nature Premium campaign was a volunteer-led campaign for the first 18 months, then receiving support from The Ashden Trust from autumn 2021. The campaign has a core group of stewards and welcomes anyone who would like to offer their knowledge and expertise. Regular Gathering of Mind meetings are held to update supporters and invite thoughts to influence the campaign strategy. Supporters constitute a network of individuals and organisations from a wide array of sectors and industries who are united by the belief that nature benefits children. The campaign is often described as a 'growing mycelial network with occasional fruiting bodies'.

Outcomes

If adopted by the UK Government, a Nature Premium would guarantee that all children would benefit from having access to nature while in education, with additional funding and support to level up access for those children and schools who need it most.

Amongst other outcomes and benefits, the Nature Premium would:

• Improve children and young people’s mental and physical wellbeing.
• Give children and young people agency and practical opportunities to understand and address the climate and biodiversity emergencies.
• Encourage healthier alternative habits to time spent on electronic devices.
• Develop skills in support of the green economy and a sustainable future.
• Help to achieve the objectives of the Government’s Sustainability and Climate Change strategy.

Rationale and Evidence

We believe that the Nature Premium would improve children’s mental and physical well-being after lockdown and demonstrate a positive investment in their future development as part of the Green Recovery. Sarah Lawfull, Chair of the Forest School Association

The rationale and evidence base for a Nature Premium is multi-faceted, benefiting children, school staff, parents, the economy and nature. . A selection of this evidence is outlined below.

COVID-19

• 71% of people agreed that time spent in/surrounded by nature has been more important to them since the onset of the Coronavirus crisis in the UK.
• 83% of people said that having access to local natural spaces is more important post-pandemic.

Political Strategy and Legislation

The Nature Premium is in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals and the following UK Government policy, commissioned reports and strategic aims:

• Dept. for Education Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy
• HM Treasury commissioned Dasgupta Review 2021
• Green Jobs Taskforce report
• Levelling Up agenda and programme
• Net Zero Strategy
• DEFRA – 25 Year Environment Plan
• DEFRA commissioned National Food Strategy 2021
• The Ofsted Education Inspection Framework 2019
• Children’s Act 2004

Climate and Biodiversity

• Time spent in nature and nature connectedness have been shown as significant factors in demonstrating positive attitudes and behaviours towards reducing the impact of climate change and biodiversity loss.
• Children who perceive themselves as more connected to nature tend to perform more sustainable behaviours.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

• A close relationship with nature has been shown to be strongly linked to mental health benefits and wellbeing.
• A survey of 2,000 adults by the Nature Premium campaign found that 73% of people in Britain agree that greater access to nature in school can improve children’s happiness and wellbeing and 74 per cent of those asked believe access to nature at school would improve young people’s quality of life.
• The UK ranked lowest of 24 European countries for the proportion of children with high life satisfaction – as stated in the Children’s Commissioner’s Childhood in the time of COVID report.
• The UK Government People and Nature Survey for England found that 83% of children said that being in nature made them very happy.
• Outdoor education has been found to provide a wealth of benefits to mental health, wellbeing and psychological development. It boosts confidence, social skills, communication, motivation, physical skills, knowledge and understanding as well as increasing self-esteem, self-confidence, ability to work cooperatively and positive attitude to learning.

Inequality

The Nature Premium presents an opportunity for a transformative legacy and to manifest the Government’s Levelling Up Agenda:

• The People and Nature Survey for England found that 71% of children from black and ethnic minority backgrounds reported spending less time outside since coronavirus, compared with 57% of white children.
• A survey by the Nature Premium campaign found that 80% UK adults said that children and young people should have equal access to regular nature experiences despite their socio-economic background.
• A YouGov survey found that 85% of people in nature-deprived areas say more natural spaces would improve their quality of life.
• Research has shown that disadvantaged families were impacted more by limited access to outdoor space during COVID-19.

Supporters

Organisations

Key organisations supporting the Nature Premium Campaign are The Forest School Association, The Ashden Trust and The Harmony Project and the Institute for Outdoor Learning. Additional supporting organisations can be found on the Nature Premium website.

Individuals

The Nature Premium Campaign has received support across a wide array of sectors, including children, teachers, parents, politicians (including Secretary of States, MPs and Lords), environmentalists, educators, activists, biologists, authors and artists. A petition to the Secretary of State for Education has been signed by over 7,000 people (correct July, 2022.)

Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta FRS FBA, (government advisor and author of The Economics of Biodiversity): “I believe that the Nature Premium will deliver such a transformation to the benefit of our children and their future development.”

Professor Sir John Lawton CBE FRS (ecologist): "The Nature Premium campaign seeks...to improve children’s mental and physical health, and to nurture the innate love of nature that all young people have within them. I think it's a marvellous initiative, with the potential to both transform children’s lives and to lay the foundations for a society that will care for our environment in the future”.

Clare and Michael Morpurgo (author and founder of Farms for City Children): “It is becoming ever clearer that every child must be able to know and care for the world around them. We cannot expect them to want to heal nature unless they first care for it, deeply. In caring for nature we care for ourselves. Which means experiencing it first hand, as close up as possible. This is every child’s right. The nature premium would play an essential role at the heart of a child’s education.”

Caroline Lucas (MP Brighton Pavilion): “Nearly half of all species in Britain are in decline. In the past decade alone, we have lost a quarter of our hedgehogs and 30% of my favourite birds, swifts. There is a real danger that many of the next generation will grow up unable to recognise the wildlife on our doorsteps until it is gone. So there is no doubt in my mind that a Nature Premium, and ensuring the next generation grows up knowing, understanding and loving the natural world, is vital.”

Chris Packham (naturalist and broadcaster): There are a plethora of well-reasoned, rational and informed reasons why the nature premium would work. It's such a simple idea and one that could be really effective.

Tim Smit (businessman, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, the Eden Project): "If I had one wish for humankind before I die, it would be that we all learn natural History and go out in nature every day from the beginning of our education. This is why I support the Nature Premium and believe, if enacted, it could mark a turning point in education.”

Dr Gabriel Hemery (author, photographer, silvologist): "Life on Earth faces an existential crisis. We are unlikely to successfully rise to meet this challenge unless society’s general population — more than a passionate minority — understands and cares for the natural world. We will benefit hugely if our youngest can grow into adults with an affinity with the environment and all things wild. From affinity will blossom understanding, care, and ultimately passion. This is why I am so pleased to support the Nature Premium campaign which calls for all children and young people to routinely access nature. It truly has the power to transfer future society and its relationship with the natural world."

Prof Miles Richardson (Professor of Human Factors and Nature Connectedness, University of Derby):“Sadly, although children enjoy nature, evidence shows that they become disconnected from it during their school years. Yet children who feel a close connection to nature tend to have better mental wellbeing. Simple everyday engagement with nature is good for children – and will be good for nature too.”

Additional individuals pledging support for the Nature Premium can be found on the Nature Premium website.

Timeline

• In June 2022, the Nature Premium met with then Secretary of State for Education Nadhim Zahawi, who gave his support for the movement.
• In March 2022, a survey of 2,000 adults by the Nature Premium campaign finds that 74 per cent of those asked believe access to nature at school would improve young people’s quality of life.
• In October 2020 an Early Day Motion was tabled by Tim Farron MP. The motion received support from 10 MPs.
• In September 2020, Dr Sara Collins appeared on The Forest School Podcast to discuss the campaign.

References

This article "Nature Premium" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Nature Premium. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

---