Oxfordshire Nature Education Strategy

We think that a Nature Education Strategy for Oxfordshire is a good idea. We are having a think and talking to lots of people, and will post the ideas here. If you would like to be involved please email kim@oxfordearthacademy.org.

Key points relevant to this paper are -

• Nature Based Education is great for developing “soft” skills in young people that they need in the workplace. We have argued this in our paper proposing an Oxford Nature Park.

• Implementation of the Oxfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy will need education as part of the approach to deliver it.

• Schools are becoming more interested in Nature Based Education for various reasons including the Government’s National Education Nature Park, the new GCSE in Natural History, and the benefits of nature for mental health and wellbeing, and green skills for the growing green economy.

• It isn’t just schools; we need education about nature in all parts of society. We also need to involve the healthcare sector, community groups, businesses, universities, colleges, local government, charities etc. to have the widest benefits.

• The value of a strategy could bring together the variety of work already happening and focus collaboration on how this can evolve to reach more children and young people