Children & Nature

This is part of an article from my gardening magazine:

" Sir David Attenborough has warned that youngsters have lost contact with the natural world.

A poll for the Wildlife Trust found that 46% of kids aged between 8 to 15 had ever looked for a wildflower with a parent or grandparent.

Shockingly, 37% of children had also never seen a hedgehog.

Sir David says that - "We can be physically, mentally and spiritually impoverished if our children are deprived of contact with the natural world. It is critical to their development to interact with nature."

Isn't it sad some have never even seen a hedgehog.

Re: Children & Nature

it definitely is sad.
I can't imagine not ever 'seeing' nature.
It's all around us, and the best part is, it's free!

I was reading an article the other day where it said kids can now 'swipe' before they walk. It seems those screens are the new pacifier.
Very sad.

Re: Children & Nature

When I was a child I was always outside playing in the fields and getting close to nature. I loved it then and I still love it now.

Re: Children & Nature

We moved house away from the city because we didnt like the way our children were growing up.
We were lucky to be able to do that.

As a result my children have seen nature everyday we live near open countryside and so hedgehogs, moles, pinemartins, weasels and rabbits are often seen , Herons cormorants oystercatchers and hawks are as common as pigeons too..

Re: Children & Nature

Well I have to admit I have never seen in the wild a live hedgehog either, I think I was 6 or 7 before I realised they came in other shapes other than flat

We do try to get into the open air as often as we can and do see deer, foxes, and various other wildlife but the idea everyone can see a hedgehog is strange to me.

Re: Children & Nature

I think maybe you could replace hedgehog with what's more visible in your area. Deer would work just as well.
Same idea, different animal!

Re: Children & Nature

Until a few years ago we were regularly visited by hedgehogs but I haven't seen one for some 10 years.

Re: Children & Nature

Oh dear. It seems those little darlings are suffering because of the lack of hedges!

http://www.theguardian.com/commentis...need-champions

Re: Children & Nature

Not surprising as many adults are just the same.

Re: Children & Nature

Well as I said previously they are only ever seen flat here, they fight an uneven battle with car tyres