More than 1 in 8 schools across England are turning their sites from grey to green

The first annual report from the National Education Nature Park has been published, showing that more than 1 in 8 schools and colleges across England have joined the free programme in its first year, which is creating a network of green spaces across the education estate.

Children and young people at more than 3,000 schools, nurseries and colleges across every region of England are leading the way in turning their learning sites from grey to green by exploring, mapping and creating habitats in their school grounds through activities including building green walls, digging ponds and growing pollinator-friendly plants.

The programme, free for all schools, nurseries and colleges in England, is designed to enhance children and young people's wellbeing and develop their green skills, all while contributing to nature recovery. 

It's been designed and delivered by a partnership led by the Natural History Museum working with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) alongside other partners, including geospatial expertise from Esri UK. It has been commissioned and funded by the Department for Education as part of its Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy.

By imagining all education settings as an interconnected green space on a national map, the impact on nature recovery across the country is being collectively tracked and assessed. As children and young people transform their sites for both people and wildlife, they use digital tools to collect data that contributes to trailblazing scientific research into nature recovery, led by scientists at the Natural History Museum.

Lucy Robinson, Community Science Manager and Deputy Head of the Centre for UK Nature at the Museum, said: "As well as connecting children and young people to nature, the programme is also vastly contributing to the understanding of the current condition of nature across the education estate. School grounds cover a huge area of land but are one of the most under-recorded urban habitats in the country. Young people taking part in the Nature Park have already mapped over 2 million m2 of habitats, which is equivalent to about 1,600 Olympic-size swimming pools! As they continue to enhance the habitats on their sites, we’ll begin to see the impact young people are having on nature recovery across the country”.  

The programme is designed to reduce the barriers to opportunity, so all young people have the chance to take part and engage with the nature in their school or setting. The percentage of pupils at participating Nature Park settings eligible for free school meals matches the national average and is higher than the average in many regions.

All resources and tools from the programme are completely free, with a focus on low-cost options for improving nature and providing guidance on finding funding.  Schools in areas that are the most disadvantaged and nature depleted are also eligible for Department for Education funding to help them improve their outside learning facilities. More than 500 schools and nurseries that fulfil government eligibility criteria have been awarded a share of £5 million to green previously grey areas of their school grounds. Examples include:

• Co-op Academy in Manchester have installed a green wall to help cool down a courtyard space and the internal south facing classrooms. Thermal imagery captured by the school has revealed the wall complete with ivy, lavender and mint has reduced the surface temperature by 10°C.   
• Milton Hall Primary School and Nursery in Southend turned a grey corner of their playground into a wildlife haven, complete with wildflower containers, trellises and hanging pots. For many of the pupils, their school site is their only access point to nature with the grant helping to get more pupils engaged with growing.
• St Philip's Primary School in Atherton have created a thriving green wall – providing homes for wildlife, adding colour and interest to the playground and even edible plants to supply salad for school lunches.

Sam Hartley, Programme Lead at the RHS, said: “We know that getting your hands dirty in nature is one of the best ways to understand and appreciate it. Through the mapping of existing habitats and creation of new green oases within schools, pupils and the local environment will better understand how to protect the environment and take care of it for both their own and nature’s future with funding available to support the transition.”

Minister for Early Education Stephen Morgan said: “All young people should be able to harness the benefits of spending time in nature, and the National Education Nature Park is making huge strides in breaking down the barriers so many face in accessing, understanding and interacting with the natural world.

“Through this programme we aim to help improve wellbeing of young people, boost biodiversity of the entire education estate and help those involved develop skills for the future.”

Any school, college or nursery in England can register to join the National Education Nature Park at www.educationnaturepark.org.uk. Those looking to get started are invited to celebrate Hidden Nature Week (14-20 October) by taking part in the programme’s Hidden Nature Challenge activity.

Read the annual report.

 
Notes to editors
For more information please contact the NHM press office:
Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5654 / 07799690151
Email: [email protected]

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 science centre and one of the most visited attractions in the UK. A global source of curiosity, inspiration and joy. Our vision is to build a future in which both people and the planet thrive. We aim to be a catalyst for change, engaging advocates for the planet in everything that we do. Our 350 scientists are finding solutions to the planetary emergency in all aspects of life.
Visit, join and support the Natural History Museum today. Protecting the planet. It's in our nature.

About the RHS
Since our formation in 1804, the RHS has grown into the UK’s leading gardening charity, touching the lives of millions of people. Perhaps the secret to our longevity is that we’ve never stood still. In the last decade alone we’ve taken on the largest hands-on project the RHS has ever tackled by opening RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford, Greater Manchester, and invested in the science that underpins all our work by building RHS Hilltop – The Home of Gardening Science. We have committed to being net positive for nature and people by 2030. We are also committed to being truly inclusive and to reflect all the communities of the UK. Across our five RHS gardens we welcome more than three million visitors each year to enjoy over 34,000 different cultivated plants. Events such as the world famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show, other national shows, our schools and community work, and partnerships such as Britain in Bloom, all spread the shared joy of gardening to wide-reaching audiences. Throughout it all we’ve held true to our charitable core – to encourage and improve the science, art and practice of horticulture –to share the love of gardening and the positive benefits it brings. 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.