Links to Research
and Reports
Links to External Pages
Below you should find links to examples of findings, reports and practice.
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Easy Reading Reports
Parliamentary APPG 2025 – “The current lack of equitable access to nature for many young people, especially those from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds, is a serious societal concern. In England, 74% of children now spend less time outdoors each day and at the same time, screen time is rising steadily”.
APPG Outdoors For All Recommendations to Government on Access to Nature online (1).pdf
Natural England - Children’s People and Nature Study 2025 update – 93% of children and young people surveyed agreed with the statement ‘being in nature makes me very happy’, including 40% who completely agreed and 29% who strongly agreed. However, Watching TV programmes about nature is the most common way children and young people see or learn about nature outside of school.
The Children’s People and Nature Survey for England: 2025 update - GOV.UK
Volvo Car UK/ Eden Project Roadside Nature Campaign – A survey about journeys with kids also found children were more familiar with Minions than dandelions or bluebells, half couldn’t identify an Oak tree and a third were unable to identify a ladybird or bumble bee
RSPB research report 2010 – Every Child Outdoors. Children need nature, nature needs children.
Natural England 2016 Report - Natural Connections Demonstration Project. Identified that the fundamental challenges to learning outside the classroom in the natural environment (LINE) in schools were local and revolved around a lack of teacher confidence in teaching outside and fragmentation of LINE service provision.
National Trust / University of Derby - Noticing Nature Report – Children are not regularly participating in the most important ‘noticing nature’ activities. 81% of children feel adults could do more to protect nature. Children with strong connection to nature felt happier and healthier.
noticingnaturereport_final.pdf
Public Health England – Improving access to Greenspace report 2020. A compilation containing a significant body of evidence to government supporting access and nature connection during childhood and adolescence.
Improving access to greenspace: 2020 review
The Wildlife Trusts research project 2019 – Nature Nurtures Children. “This research shows that children experience profound and diverse benefits through regular contact with nature. Contact with the wild improves children’s wellbeing, motivation and confidence. The data also highlights how children’s experiences in and around the natural world led to better relationships with their teachers and class-mates”.
New report shows how nature nurtures children | The Wildlife Trusts
Peers Foundation - Children who participate in Guides or Scouts – organisations which aim to develop qualities such as self reliance, resolve and a desire for self-learning – are likely to have better mental health in middle age.
New research finds Scouts and Guides provide ‘mental health boost for life’ - Pears Foundation
Portabello Institute – The Scandinavian Influence: Researching outdoors sleep for babies and toddlers in the early years. A practical trial in a setting in Ireland.
The Scandinavian Influence: Researching Outdoor Sleep for Babies and Toddlers in Early Years
DofE impact report 24 - Participation in DofE showed statistically significant improvements in three out of four wellbeing measures: life satisfaction, happiness and feelings of doing things in life that are worthwhile. Improvements in life satisfaction are higher for girls and young women, young people from minority ethnic backgrounds and those who reported poor or fair health at the start of their DofE.
Impact Report - The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Girlguiding - Seven in ten (70%) children aged 6 to 18 would like to be able to go outside and have fun more often. When children can’t play outside it has a negative impact on how they feel. The majority of parents (97%) and children aged 6 to 18 (95%) we surveyed think it’s important for children to go outside and have fun.
research-briefing---adventure-and-play.pdf
RSPB – Connecting with nature report 2013 – “The national results presented over the following pages make fascinating reading. Importantly, they show that currently only 21% of 8–12 year olds in the UK have a level of connection to nature that the RSPB considers to be a realistic and achievable target for all children”.
RSPB-_-Children-Connecting-with-Nature-_-2013.pdf
BBC Futures report – Outdoor play and the immune system
How mud boosts your immune system - BBC Future
Dacia – 73% of teens spend winter months indoors in ‘hibernation mode’. But 2/3 would be willing to go on outdoors adventures with friends if it were easier or cheaper.
Children and Nature Network - Creating a stronger family culture through “friluftsliv”
“Friluftsliv” for strong families | Children & Nature Network
Natural England 2022 - How the natural environment can support children and young people - policy briefing.
How the Natural Environment can support Children and Young People - EIN067
The Eden Project – Nature Connections – The 2025 programme. (2026 also sees the start of a major national programme).
Eden launches series of free social activities to connect people of all ages with nature
Deeper Dive Research
Does Access to Green Space Impact the Mental Well-being of Children: A Systematic Review - Access to green space was associated with improved mental well-being, overall health and cognitive development of children. It promotes attention restoration, memory, competence, supportive social groups, self-discipline, moderates stress, improves behaviors and symptoms of ADHD and was even associated with higher standardized test scores.
Journal of Environmental Psychology – The impacts of nature connectedness on children’s wellbeing: A systematic literature review. 2023. Our analysis covered qualitative and quantitative studies, which all showed the positive effects of nature connectedness on well-being.
Psychology Today article – Lessons in play from those who do it well: Swedish Children. “children would gladly lay down their devices – as ours did in Sweden – in favour of outdoor play - if given the time, space and regular opportunities to do so”.
Lessons on Play From Those Who Do It Well: Swedish Children | Psychology Today United Kingdom
CONIFAS Study University of York – Abstract for the study currently underway regarding the benefits of green and blue natural spaces for 5-11 year old children with diagnosed ADHD.
Co-production of a nature-based intervention for children with ADHD study (CONIFAS): Protocol for co-production phases - PMC also NHS see release Research to explore benefits of forest school on children’s mental health | Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust
BMJ - Mental health benefits of interactions with nature in children and teenagers
University of Edinburgh – Participation in Scouts and Guides boosts later life health.
Scouts and Guides boosts later life health | News | The University of Edinburgh
Children in the Outdoors - A literature review with particular focus on health. 2009. Sustainable Development Research Centre.
Children in the outdoors literature review
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