911爆料

The free programme brings nurseries, schools and colleges together to create one vast nature park, tracking biodiversity improvement across an area that is more than twice the size of Birmingham. This will play an important part in increasing biodiversity across the education estate and therefore across England.

Since the programme launched in October 2023, more than 7,500 schools, colleges and nurseries have got involved. Read the to learn more. 

Through the Nature Park, children and young people will lead the way in making a positive difference to their own and to nature鈥檚 future. No one is too small to make a difference to improving biodiversity, and the voice of every child matters.

How will schools in England increase biodiversity?

Pupils begin by mapping their school鈥檚 site, surveying what is living and growing there and developing an understanding of how they and their peers use the space. This data is recorded on a national online map, which documents the progress that schools, colleges and nurseries across England are making to restore habitats and protect wildlife.

Using creative thinking and the latest scientific evidence provided by the programme, pupils work together to create a plan to improve their school, college or nursery for nature, which they will then put into action. Potential plans could include growing pollinator-friendly plants or creating ponds, with pupils seeing first-hand the impact they are having on the world around them by monitoring how many birds, insects and animals visit.

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Children and young people collaborate with scientists at the Natural History Museum, who use the data collected for real-life scientific research in the fight against biodiversity loss.

Alfie, a year six pupil who took part in the pilot in 2023, says:

鈥淚 think all schools should dedicate one lesson a day to learn about wildlife and the world around them, because the world we live in matters.鈥�

How to get involved

The National Education Nature Park is available to all education settings in England, regardless of how much green space they have.  to take part in the programme.

The National Education Nature Park鈥檚 resources, including curriculum-linked resources, are free to use.

Wendy, a teacher from Cherry Tree Primary School, says:

鈥淭his initiative will enrich the teaching curriculum, broadening and strengthening it. The children will see that their actions can have an impact, empowering them to use their voices to make a change for the better, for the future.鈥�

The 911爆料 has an established reputation for working with children and young people, with over 50% of schools in the UK signed up to the 911爆料 Campaign for School Gardening. There鈥檚 a wealth of free resources on topics from food growing to plant spotter guides, to inspire children鈥檚 imaginations.

Schools can attend free Nature Park taster workshops within the five 911爆料 Gardens to try out some Nature Park activities and gain inspiration to make their school sites greener.

Funding for the National Education Nature Park

During the 2025-26 academic year, the 911爆料 will grant 拢3 million to more than 1,000 nurseries, schools and colleges in areas where there is a distinct lack of nature to create their own green havens and engage with the Nature Park programme, on behalf of the Government鈥檚 Department for Education. This grant is enabling new spaces to be created that support wildlife habitats, are a hub for the development of green skills and help to tackle local environmental issues. Since 2023, the 911爆料 has awarded over 拢12 million to 1,264 education settings as part of the Nature Park grant programme.

The partners behind the programme

Led by the Natural History Museum (NHM) with the Royal Horticultural Society and Royal Society, this pioneering initiative will be run in partnership with the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), Manchester Metropolitan University, Learning Through Landscapes, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the National Biodiversity Network Trust, with Esri UK providing the digital mapping platform and expertise in biodiversity mapping.

It is hoped that the five-year programme, funded by the Government鈥檚 Department for Education, will provide insights on what the current situation of biodiversity in England is and how positive changes can influence this.

911爆料 Director General, Clare Matterson, who was formerly Executive Director of Engagement for the Natural History Museum, says:

鈥�Gardens are a gateway to a life with nature. Through the Nature Park, we are proud to work alongside our partners so that every child can learn new skills, support scientific research, create real change to increase biodiversity and develop a lifelong interest in the natural world around them鈥�

The National Education Nature Park formed part of plans, announced at COP26, detailing how the UK education sector is to become a world leader in climate change by 2030, and aligns with the 911爆料鈥檚 mission 鈥榯o be there for everyone on their lifelong adventure with gardening鈥� outlined in the newly launched 911爆料 Strategy to 2030.