Children ‘losing their connection with nature’

For the first time, researchers have carried out a three-year project to examine how close UK children are to nature.

The RSPB discovered that only 21pc of children aged between eight and 12 in the UK have a level of connection to nature that can be considered “realistic and achievable” for all youngsters.

The charity said the study was commissioned as a result of growing concerns over generations of children with little or no contact with the natural world and wildlife – which it believes is one of the biggest threats to UK nature.

The findings reveal there are statistically significant differences between children’s connection to nature at a national level across the UK, as well as between boys and girls, and British urban and rural homes.

In May, 25 wildlife organisations, including the RSPB, released the State Of Nature report, which revealed 60pc of the wildlife species studied have declined over recent decades.