A Shropshire-based environmental charity is playing a key role in a £4.5 million initiative aimed at helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds connect with nature. The Field Studies Council (FSC) is one of several organisations involved in delivering the Generation Green 2 project, which aims to provide more than 41,500 nature-based experiences to young people by next spring.
The FSC, which has been awarded nearly £800,000 in funding, expects to welcome around 4,000 young people to its field centres, including its Preston Montford site near Shrewsbury. The charity’s other locations across England, including centres in the Lake District, Suffolk, Devon, and Surrey, are also involved in the initiative.
Mark Castle, Chief Executive of the FSC, highlighted the importance of the project in fostering a sense of curiosity and connection with the natural world among young people. “We are inspiring thousands of young people to engage with nature for the first time,” Castle said. “We’ve seen their eyes open to the possibilities of the natural world, and we are excited to continue providing opportunities for them to explore and learn.”
Generation Green 2 is part of the Access Unlimited coalition, which includes organisations such as YHA (England & Wales), The Outward Bound Trust, Scouts, and Girlguiding, as well as nine of England’s National Parks. The project, funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), aims to address disparities in access to green spaces, particularly for those in socially disadvantaged communities.
Research shows that children in the UK’s most deprived areas have limited opportunities to experience nature. Around 18% of children from these areas rarely spend time in natural environments, and many live over 15 miles from protected landscapes such as National Parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Generation Green 2 initiative seeks to change this by providing nature connection experiences designed to foster a lifelong appreciation of the outdoors.
The FSC’s centres, including its flagship site at Preston Montford, offer a range of activities to engage young people with the natural world. These include residential trips, biodiversity courses, and hands-on learning in environments that many of the participants have never had the chance to explore. The FSC also provides online resources and nature-based publications to complement these experiences.
Castle emphasised the broader impact of these initiatives on young people’s wellbeing and future opportunities. “For many of us, the chance to step outside and explore nature is something we take for granted,” he said. “But for the young people we work with, it’s often a first-time experience, and we hope to show them not only how nature can enhance their lives but also how it can offer opportunities for further study and rewarding careers.”
Since launching in spring 2024, the Generation Green 2 project has already reached nearly 6,000 young people across England, with many more expected to take part by the project’s conclusion next year. For more information about the Field Studies Council visit https://www.field-studies-council.org/