New online resource to gets kids in touch with nature…
After endless surveys suggesting that children are spending less time than ever before outside in nature’s playground the Woodland Trust wants young nature spotters across the country to prove the cynics wrong.
The Trust’s “nature detectives” website helps children get outside into their back garden, local woodland and other nature spots this summer – and more importantly reconnect with nature on their doorstep.
To help the UK’s kids, families and schools, the nature detectives website today launches a revolutionary tool called the “LAB” where kids can create spotter sheets and wildlife activities which they can take outside and use to identify anything from a bluebell to a bumblebee.
With a large gallery of real life photos and the chance to add your own, the LAB is a fun way to get children to take learning into their own hands, get outside, get active and have fun!
Shaun Nixon, from the Trust’s learning team: “In the 21st century it is natural that children are more inclined to spend time in front of a computer screen, but the sad fact is that more and more are losing touch with nature whether intentionally or not.
The LAB provides a more constructive way for kids to spend time online, whilst learning about nature along the way. Best of all it gives them the kick to get outside and explore the real world.”
With 15,000 children taking part in nature detectives activities every week and over a million downloads from the nature detectives website, there is clearly still an appetite for the natural world amongst children and the Woodland Trust hopes the LAB will encourage this.
The creations can be saved and shared with friends - and the nature detectives team are challenging children across the country to spot as many things as possible using the LAB and let them know! Start experimenting at www.naturedetectives.org.uk
Notes to editors
For media enquiries contact:
The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, email: media@woodlandtrust.org.uk
The Woodland Trust:
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters.
The Trust has three key aims: i) to enable the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees ii) to protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future iii) to inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free.