More than 7,500 children have been able to enjoy the wonders of the natural world and experience incredible landscapes, thanks to two much-needed grants schemes.
Over the past year around 6,800 children from across Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey have had the opportunity to visit the South Downs National Park on school trips through the Outdoor Learning Grant scheme.
Outdoor Learning Grant
Funding of £70,000 from the South Downs Trust and the National Park Authority supported almost 120 school trips, including to places such as Cuckmere Haven, Butser Ancient Farm, Devil’s Dyke, Gilbert White’s Study Centre, and Pulborough Brooks.
Generation Green 2
Meanwhile, more than 800 pupils from urban areas with pockets of socio-economic deprivation – including Hastings, Eastbourne, Newhaven, Brighton and Portsmouth – have enjoyed day visits, farm tours and residential stays thanks to the “Generation Green 2” initiative. The programme, funded by Defra, was a huge success following the Covid pandemic and recently returned to ensure that children from economically-disadvantaged areas have the opportunity to explore and play in green spaces.
Activities for “Generation Green” included guided wildlife walks, nature connection sensory games, wild arts and crafts, stargazing with a “night under the stars”, map reading, and learning about water conservation.
Scores more schools have applied for funding and will benefit from a share of £60,000 to support trips over the next year as part of the Outdoor Learning Grant.
(Image shows a Nature Connection school visit at Seven Sisters Country Park – SDNPA)
Prioritising Young People
It comes as the National Park Authority is finalising its masterplan of priorities for the next five years and strengthening its commitment to young people.
The Partnership Management Plan includes ensuring that under-25s across the region have access to nature and are provided with opportunities to help wildlife, take climate action, conserve heritage and pick up skills for green careers. One of the targets is to provide 125 Youth Action Days – where young people can go out in the landscape and get involved in conservation activities – between now and 2031.
Laura Sercombe, Director of Landscape and Strategy at the National Park Authority, said:
“We’re really pleased to have helped to provide all these inspiring experiences for schoolchildren and look forward to helping many more schools in the region.
“We want all children to be able to experience the joys, memories and learnings of the South Downs National Park with its amazing biodiversity, landscapes, and history.
“Sadly, many children still do not have access to green spaces, with the latest national research showing that almost a fifth of young people living in the most deprived areas never visit a natural environment.
“The nature and climate crises pose a significant threat, not only to the environment but to young people’s mental well-being. Eco-anxiety among young people is on the rise and having opportunities to take positive action is important in supporting young people to feel part of the solution.”
And Laura added:
“The youth voice has been an important element of drawing up our management plan and they’ve told us that a close relationship with nature really matters to them.
“Yet, as young people’s concern for the natural world and our planet has grown, their access to it has not. Young people are being burdened with the worries for the future of nature and our planet without the access or opportunities to do something about it.
“As a National Park we’re determined to make sure young people get the helping hand they deserve, inspiring a lifetime of custodianship for the natural environment upon which we all depend.”
The school visits have received glowing praise from teachers in the region. One said:
“The Outdoor Learning Grant has made a huge difference. The cost of living crisis is having a real impact on families and we want to give the children real experiences but are mindful of the cost. The grant makes the trip affordable. Some children had never been on a coach , bus or train and this experience will be with them a long time.”
Another teacher said:
“It has been the best day for the entire year group. The quality of the visit has met curriculum aims in a way that has given children important memories to support their learning. We have seen children’s self-esteem visibly grow as they have had new experiences with their peers. They would not have had this opportunity without a grant to support with the cost of the coach and entrance fees.”
Last year the National Park Authority and South Downs Trust launched a new partnership with National Express Transport Solutions that will allow more children than ever to enjoy a school trip.
Applications for the Outdoor Learning Grant will open again in early 2026 and schools can apply for funding support here.
- The Outdoor Learning Grant enables schools with 10% or more pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM) to access fantastic opportunities to learn outside the classroom across the National Park. Schools with 10% or more FSM can claim £300 towards transport and £250 towards provider costs for the visit. Schools with over 20% FSM can claim £500 towards transport and £250 for provider costs. The bulk of the funding comes from the South Downs Trust, the official charity of the National Park and relies on donations from the public and businesses. Learn more here https://southdownstrust.org.uk/outdoor-learning-grants/
- The “Generation Green 2” project was delivered by the Access Unlimited (AU) Partnership. The AU coalition of 24 organisations includes the YHA (England & Wales), The Outward Bound Trust, Field Studies Council, Girlguiding, Scouts, National Parks England, and the National Landscapes Association. Nine National Park Authorities and eight National Landscapes were involved and funding was provided by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of its ongoing support of access to nature.
The draft Partnership Management Plan for the South Downs National Park can be read here.