Nature Network

Following a successful grant application and pilot scheme across 2023/24, we are pleased to announce a new 3-year project of nature connection and engagement working with secondary school students.

Thanks to funding from the John Lyons trust, we will be offering this project to key stage 3 students across North and West London, with delivery of the project starting in Summer term 2025.

This is an after-school club focusing on nature connection and engagement, specifically targeting Year 7 and 8 students. Research shows a considerable drop in nature connection in young people post primary school – which then takes many years to recover. By continuing to engage students with confidence and passion for the natural world we hope to achieve the following;

• Improving mental and physical wellbeing by spending time outside and engaging with nature.
• Improving nature advocacy in young people, in a time of global crisis
• Improving science literacy, and encouraging consideration for study of science at GCSE and beyond
• Instilling a greater understanding and interest in local spaces and local wildlife

This project comprise of one session a week across a term, up to six weeks in total. Activities will vary, incorporating both science and art, and will vary depending on what resources we have access too and the time of year (and perhaps the weather!), but will focus on a common theme of students making their own nature journals allowing them to creatively document their work in their own way.

Nature connection is all about engaging with nature in a more meaningful manner - it's about noticing and reflecting on nature, and using all of our senses to engage. We'll be looking to combine that emotional connection with science and art, bringing together creativity, fieldwork skills and natural history.

We could be gathering leaves and flowers to ID, press and create artwork from, doing an invertebrate survey whilst also building habitats and building a bespoke mini-beast hotel, or sitting and listening for bird song - building our own sound map of the school inspired by nature - no matter where we are, nature is all around us!

• Your school or organisation must be based in one of the nine John Lyons action boroughs: Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Kensington & Chelsea, City of London or Westminster. Unfortunately, at this moment in time we are not able to offer this project to organisations outside of this area.
• A one-off cost of £100 (for term long block of this project) – this will go towards the cost of resources for the project (particularly things that will not be reused and remain with the students or at the school).
• Outdoor space, or somewhere we can visit nearby to investigate. It doesn’t have to be huge or impressive – there’s nature all around us; even a small green space can support a surprising amount of wildlife!
• Key stage 3 students – this project is particularly aimed at years 7 and 8, where there is a recognised drop in nature engagement; group size can be flexible, but ideally around 10 – 15 students. No prior knowledge required and content can be tailored to any level of ability.

We will be starting to deliver this project in schools in summer term of the 2024/25 academic year, and every term thereafter for 3 years. Due to the nature of delivering this project and the requirement of staff time and resources, we will have a limited number of spaces available each term – if you would like any further information and are interested in taking part, please get in touch with our Project Manager via the contact below.