The Children’s People and Nature Survey for England: Summer Holidays 2021
- Date Published
- Oct 2021
- Publisher(s)
- UK Government
- Document Type
- Report
- More Info
- https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/the-childrens-people-and-nature-survey-for-england-summer-holidays-2021-official-statistics
- Themes
- Health & Wellbeing*, Physical Activity, Social & Community*, Under Represented Groups*
- Sub Themes
- Mental Health, Physical Health, Young People
- Geographic Area
- National
- Lifestages
- Children & Young People
Responses were collected from 2,048 children and young people aged 8-to-15 between the 10th and 31st August 2021 for the 'Children's People and Nature Survey' (C-PANS). The survey provides information on how children and young people experience and think about the natural environment. Some of the main findings were:
Most (96%) of children and young people spent time outdoors (in places other than their garden) at least once in the past week and this did not vary based on gender, ethnicity, or income. 86% also said they had spent time noticing nature at least once in the past week.
Most (89%) of children had access to a private garden. However, this picture is mixed and access to a private garden was more likely for white children and those from households with an income >£50k.
More than eight in ten children and young people (85%) agreed that being in nature made them very happy. Those spending time outside at least once a week were more likely to report 'very high' levels of happiness, as were those who reported 'high' connection to nature.
Children and young people's connection to nature was comparable to that of adults. One in six children and young people (60%) agreed that they 'felt part of nature', compared to 58% of adults across the first year of the adult's People and Nature Survey.
Concern for the environment was high across all demographic groups, with nearly eight in ten children and young people (78%) agreeing that looking after the environment was important to them. The number of children and young people saying they did not think adults were doing enough to protect the environment increased from 39% in 2020, to 46% in 2021, and 81% said that they wanted to do more to look after the environment.
Despite the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, just 14% of children and young people said that needing to stay away from others because of coronavirus, and 16% said worry around coronavirus stopped them from spending more time outside.
Although overall children and young people show high levels of engagement with nature, this was not always equal between group.
