ZSL campaign wants access to nature a right for every school child

As schools wind down for summer and pupils trade their desks for the great outdoors, ZSL – the conservation charity behind London and Whipsnade Zoos – is calling on teachers to help ensure children stay connected to nature long after the holidays end.

Launching its latest campaign today this week, ZSL is encouraging educators and the wider public to back a drive that would make access to nature a guaranteed part of every child’s school experience.

A new survey by the charity found overwhelming support for outdoor learning, with 95% of parents saying it’s important that children have the opportunity to learn outside. Across the board – whether parents or not – 90% of people agreed.

The findings highlight a shared appreciation for nature-based learning. Two-thirds of respondents recalled their own positive memories of outdoor school experiences, from woodland walks and pond-dipping to foraging for mushrooms.

Now, ZSL is asking the government to enshrine access to nature as a right for every school child. They’re also inviting teachers, parents and others to sign a petition in support of the idea.

ZSL CEO Matthew Gould explains: “Teachers are struggling to make time for nature with all the pressures they are under. And the children who need it most – those in deprived areas with the least access at home – are less likely to get it. Access to nature has become a privilege, not a right, and that needs to change.

“Every day at London Zoo, we see what happens when a child encounters wildlife for the first time, and it’s pure magic. We want every child to experience nature.”

Evidence shows that the benefits of contact with nature are not shared equally. Children from low-income and minority backgrounds are significantly less likely to have access to green spaces, despite often facing higher levels of stress and mental health challenges.

In the government’s own People and Nature Survey, 91% of children said being in nature made them “very happy” – but a third hadn’t had any outdoor learning that week. Government figures also estimate that better access to green space could save the NHS over £2 billion a year.

Matthew added: “ZSL is urging everyone who cares about nature and the wellbeing of our children to sign the petition - we can make sure nature isn’t a luxury, but a right for every child regardless of background.”