Through a new education and nature initiative, the first 1,000 schools in England are taking part in biodiversity research, the Natural History Museum has announced.
Via the National Education Nature Park programme, young people in England are creating a network of nature-rich spaces like ponds, green walls and grasslands on school sites.
The initiative was commissioned by the Department for Education and is led by London’s Natural History Museum alongside the Royal Horticultural Society.
Since it launched in late 2023, more than 7,000 schools, nurseries and colleges have signed up.
The first 1,000 schools to take part in the programme are creating a map of the habitats on their sites, recording an area of more than 11 million square metres and thus supporting global biodiversity research.
“While a lot is known about levels of biodiversity across the country, education sites remain a bit of a mystery – they are the most under-recorded urban habitat type,” said Lucy Robinson, deputy head of the centre for UK nature at the Natural History Museum.
Students mapping out habitats
“But they also cover an enormous area of land, representing a great opportunity for nature.”
Students have recorded trees and hedges, grassy areas and even bare ground to map their habitats and contribute to scientific research.
“This is where the children and young people taking part in the Nature Park programme are making a huge difference – they are ‘community scientists’, collaborating with us to study the biodiversity gains they achieve as they make improvements on their sites, contributing to the overall health of nature across the country,” Robinson added.
In addition to improving the environment, the programme aims to bring nature and climate into the curriculum.
“Engaging young people in observing and recording nature not only builds valuable skills, but also deepens their connection to the natural world, which is key to nurturing the next generation of advocates for nature,” said Sam Hartley, the Royal Horticultural Society’s senior programme and partnerships manager.
Education Minister Stephen Morgan said the initiative “gives children hands-on green learning experiences that build confidence and environmental knowledge”.
Images courtesy of the Natural History Museum
