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Research and feedback

Across the world, young people are speaking up and taking positive action for nature. Find relevant evidence and summaries relating to young people’s connections with nature and the changes they want to see below.

    Beech Hall school Cheshire Credit Jacki Clark

    Young people’s impact on wild places

    Young people make a significant positive difference for the natural environment by meeting the Conserve Challenge of the John Muir Award. See our impact reports from Scotland (2018) and from across the UK (2015) to find out more - “It felt good to do something for others and work outside in fresh air.”

    Kat Martin 2020Vision - Hands with lizard

    #TheBrawOutdoorQuestion

    As part of Year of Young People 2018, the John Muir Trust co-designed a micro-survey with young people to help voice young people’s views about the outdoors. Find out what they said

    Kat Martin - girls in wood

    SEEd’s Youth Listening Project

    Read about young people’s awareness of the issues around sustainability, their hopefulness and desire to learn more about how to make a difference in Sustainability and Environmental Education ongoing  ‘Attitudes to Sustainability’ study.

    Europarc Youth Manifesto

    Young People Shaping Protected Areas & Rural Communities

    The EUROPARC Youth Manifesto showcases young people’s vision on living, learning and working in protected areas and rural communities across Europe. See the report and recommendations

    Discover a wild place - Kat Martin

    Supporting young people’s mental health – how urban nature can help

    This practice guide shares young people’s ideas and starting points for organisations looking to support young people’s mental health through nature. See the guide and learn more

    National Parks selfie

    Teenage attitudes to nature - research conducted by a teenager

    Research by teenager and keen naturalist Dominik Reynolds found that young people are aware of conservation issues and they do care. See Dom's report for trends in his peer’s attitudes and perceptions of nature conservation campaigning.

    Walking by flowers - Kat Martin 2020Vision

    When teenagers fall out of love with nature

    A study has found that young people’s connection to nature drops sharply from the age of 11 and doesn’t recover until they are 30. Read more about the findings