The National Education Nature Park is a free programme for all schools, nurseries and colleges in England, helping bring climate and nature into everyday teaching and learning.
Commissioned by the Department for Education, and led by the Natural History Museum and Royal Horticultural Society, it helps schools put nature at the heart of education, giving pupils the chance to get to know their own site, understand what’s there, and take action to improve it for people and wildlife.
When schools add their progress to the Nature Park map, they join other schools across the country and learners can see the collective difference they are making. By taking responsibility for their school environment, pupils can see real, positive change, helping to reduce feelings of climate anxiety and replacing them with hope, action, and connection.
In Hampshire, this also links directly to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), which sets out local priorities for helping nature recover and identifies where action can make the biggest difference. Schools have an important part to play: even small changes to school grounds can help create a wider network of wildlife-friendly spaces across the county.
By mapping habitats, recording what is already on site, creating wildflower areas, planting trees or hedgerows, improving ponds, reducing mowing, or making space for pollinators, schools can support LNRS delivery in a practical and visible way. These actions give pupils hands-on experience of local nature recovery while contributing to the bigger picture for biodiversity, climate resilience and community wellbeing.
For teachers, the programme offers free curriculum-aligned resources and step-by-step guidance, saving you preparation time and helping bringing nature into your lessons. As your South East regional officers, we are here to answer your questions and provide guidance, workshops and training to support your school’s journey.
So how should you get started?
- Register now to get started and add your school to the national map!
- Join the free webinar from your South East Team
We look forward to supporting you on your Nature Park journey.
Your South East Regional Team - [email protected]