Campaigners Urge 'Greenlightenment' as Survey Finds Many Children Have Not Climbed a Tree

Supporters of a proposed Natural History GCSE are renewing calls for stronger nature education in schools, citing survey findings that a majority of children in the UK have limited direct experience of the natural world.

According to the survey cited by campaigners, 55% of children have not climbed a tree, a statistic being used to illustrate what advocates describe as a growing disconnect between young people and the outdoors.

Broadcaster and naturalist Steve Backshall is among those calling for what he termed a 'greenlightenment' — a renewed push to embed nature education more deeply into the school curriculum.

Proponents argue that a dedicated Natural History GCSE would give students structured opportunities to engage with wildlife, ecosystems and outdoor environments, potentially reversing trends highlighted by the survey.

The BBC reported the calls as part of ongoing discussions about the qualification, which has been proposed in previous years as a way to formalise nature study within the education system.

Details of the survey's full methodology and sample size were not specified in the available reporting.