A new report has claimed to have found "overwhelming" evidence of a long-term and dramatic decline in children's relationship with the outdoors.
Produced by naturalist, author and TV producer Stephen Moss, Natural Childhood has combined years of academic research and surveys on the subject and highlights how a generation of children is finally losing touch with the natural world.
The report found that fewer than ten per cent of kids play in wild places; down from 50 per cent a generation ago. Meanwhile, the 'roaming radius' for kids has declined by 90 per cent in one generation (30 years).
As a result, the study outlines the need to tackle the rise of 'Nature Deficit Disorder' - a term coined by the US based writer Richard Louv - to describe a growing dislocation between children and nature.
The research shows that capturing children before they enter the teenage years is crucial with the research clearly showing if you get kids hooked before they reach twelve years old, you'll create a lifelong passion for the environment.
The National Trust has now responded by initiating a two-month inquiry that will take evidence from leading experts and the public to look at how it can better reconnect children with the natural world.
It has also announced that it will be working alongside dairy giant Arla, the NHS Sustainable Development Unit and film-makers Green Lions to organise a summit during 2012 bringing together a range of experts to develop a roadmap for reconnecting children and nature.
Fiona Reynolds, director-general of the National Trust, said: "Getting outdoors and closer to nature has all sorts of benefits for our children. It keeps them fit, they can learn about the world around them and most of all its fun.
"As a nation we need to do everything we can to make it easy and safe for our children to get outdoors."
To read the full press release, click here
To read the full report, click here.
