An Introduction to Nature Education

Why Learn About Nature?

It seems self evident that enabling young people to spend time in nature, in a safe, enjoyable and engaging way, will increase their understanding of nature, and lead them to valuing, and wanting to protect it. Many environmentalists promote the benefits of Nature Education (about nature) and Nature Based Education (in nature - regardless of topic) in this way.

But for the education sector to make space for Nature Education and Nature Based Education we need to demonstrate that it can also help schools address some of their key priorities: attainment, mental health and wellbeing, school connectedness, physical health of students, and skills development.

A growing number of academic studies, and other investigations, are supporting Nature Based Education initiatives in schools, seeing a multitude of benefits:

Greening School Grounds

Enhancements for wellbeing and wildlife

Schools need nature in their grounds for a number of reasons - wellbeing, education, cooling and shade. There is growing evidence for the benefits for wellbeing, education, and a growing need for mitigating the growing impact of climate change on the temperatures in classrooms: Cumulative exposure to urban heat can affect the learning capacity of students and penalise the vulnerable and low-income young population: A systematic review.

We are working with several schools in Oxfordshire to improve their green spaces for young people and for wildlife. We have a helped create a thriving ecology garden at The Cherwell School and are working to enhance the grounds at Cutteslowe School where their Forest School leader has turned the playground into a haven for children and wildlife.

Wildlife learning in your school grounds

Connecting young people with nature is one of the best things you can do for their wellbeing, concentration, calmness and all round happiness. You don’t need to get in a minibus to go and find it. We can guarantee you will have plants, invertebrates and birds in your school grounds, that you can use to engage your students.

If you are interested in creating some more green space for the wellbeing of your children and staff, and to enhance wildlife habitat, get in touch and we’ll see if we can help.

case studies

National Education Nature Park

What’s happening in Oxfordshire Schools?

We are currently supporting the Oxfordshire County Council to find out what Oxfordshire Schools are doing on nature enhancements to their grounds, and educating their students in and about nature. The information will be used to work out how the Council, nature organisations and educators in the county can help.

There are around 355 schools in Oxfordshire, including 85 secondary schools. Around 40 of these have signed up for the National Education Nature Park (NENP)(18 secondary and 22 primary) - a project which seeks to encourage schools to invite more biodiversity into school and use it for wellbeing and education through digitally mapping their school site. Many schools are using D of E as an opportunity to complete this.

Below is the list so far - let us know if we’ve missed you!

If you would be willing to add to the information please do complete the questionnaire below.

Complete the questionnaire

  • Abingdon School, Abingdon

    Bicester Community School, Bicester

    Cheney School, Oxford

    Chipping Norton School, Chipping Norton

    Europa School, Culham

    Faringdon Community College, Faringdon

    Fitzharries, Abingdon

    Gillots School, Henley

    Gosford Hill School, Kidlington

    Larkmead School, Abingdon

    Magdalen College School, Oxford

    Oxford Academy, Oxford

    Oxford Spires Academy, Oxford

    St Helen and St Katharine, Abingdon

    The Cherwell School, Oxford

    The King’s School, Witney

    The Swan School, Oxford

    Wheatley Park School, Oxford

  • Benson Church of England Primary School, Benson

    Charlbury Primary School, Charlbury

    Cutteslowe Primary School, Oxford

    Ewelme Church of England Primary School, Ewelme

    Garsington Church of England Primary School, Garsington

    Ladygrove Park Primary School, Didcot

    Larkrise Primary School, Oxford

    North Leigh Church of England Primary School, North Leigh

    Madley Brook Community Primary School, Witney

    Manor Primary School, Didcot

    Orchard Meadow Primary School, Oxford

    Rose Hill Primary School, Oxford

    Sandhills Community Primary School, Oxford

    Sibford Gower Primary School, Sibford Gower

    St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Banbury

    St Leonard’s Church of England Primary School, Banbury

    St Peter’s Church of England Primary School, Cassington

    Sonning Common Primary School, Sonning Common

    Witney Community Primary School, Witney

    Wolvercote Primary School, Oxford

    Woodstock Church of England Primary School, Woodstock

    Wroxton Church of England Primary School, Wroxton