Piloting Nature Park affiliate organisations
The National Education Nature Park programme is piloting ‘Nature Park affiliates’ – organisations that share the aims and ethos of the Nature Park and can help education settings be successful on their Nature Park journey.
During the summer and autumn terms of 2024, the Nature Park partnership has been working with Earthwatch Europe and The Tree Council as pilot Nature Park delivery affiliates.
Following Nature Park training and information, they are piloting supporting settings to understand how to participate in and make best use of the Nature Park programme, while aligning with their own organisation’s work in schools and other education settings.
Pilot Nature Park affiliates
Earthwatch Europe
Earthwatch Europe are working with schools across England to participate in Nature Park activities as part of Green Earth Schools. Within this programme children and young people learn about the environmental challenges facing our planet and urban spaces and explore nature-based solutions.
Pupils are given the creative platform to re-design and re-build their own school grounds into nature-rich spaces, enriching pupil engagement and enhancing green skills in solutions-based thinking and leadership. Through pupil workshops and educator professional development, Earthwatch have embedded the Nature Park resources, support and guidance to support our shared mission of empowering children and young people to make a positive difference to both their own and nature's future.
Earthwatch prioritise working with schools in urban locations, where access to nature is most limited and with a focus on reaching underserved communities.
The Tree Council
The Tree Council works with some of the most deprived school communities in Britain. Affiliated schools are encouraged to participate in Nature Park activities as part of our acclaimed Young Tree Champions programme. The programme is designed by teachers for teachers, to inspire pupils of all abilities in primary, secondary, special schools, and alternative provision to be a ‘Force for Nature’, by leading the way in tackling the climate and nature emergency across their curriculum, on campus, and within their community.
Nature Park resources are part of a wider Young Tree Champions resource bank, which also includes free packs of native trees, a tech bundle, a suite of CPD training, and in-school workshops. These resources deliver our shared mission to help children and young people grow a deeper connection with nature, to increase understanding around the value of school grounds, and to measure the impact improving the grounds for nature, and each other, can have. The Young Tree Champions’ knowledge, skills, and passion are shared through our interact hub, national competitions, and annual festival, inspiring new schools to be a ‘Force for Nature’.
CPD affiliates
As well as supporting schools, we are also piloting working with affiliate organisations to deliver CPD that aligns with the Nature Park programme. During the academic year 2024-25 we will be working with Climate Adapted Pathways for Education (CAPE) as a pilot CPD affiliate.
The pilots are expected to be completed by the end of next academic year (July 2025) and will then be evaluated by all parties. The Nature Park team will then consider next steps for collaboration with other organisations. Watch this space!