Young People and Nature: Insight Briefing

A survey by ReRoute into young people’s relationship with and understanding of nature, and their opinions of Scotland's natural spaces.

Young People and Nature

ReRoute, Scotland’s National Youth Biodiversity Panel, are working in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Young Scot to increase young people’s engagement with and enjoyment of Scotland’s biodiversity and landscapes. ReRoute and SNH are linking this work to Scotland’s Biodiversity Strategy and Route Map to 2020.

This report presents insights from a survey which was conducted by ReRoute to explore young people’s opinions and understanding of, and relationship with nature.

ReRoute wrote the survey questions and supported the analysis of the results. It was hosted through Young Scot’s Rewards programme, which is used by nearly 80,000 young people in Scotland, with the offer of Rewards points for completion. The survey was promoted through Young Scot’s digital platforms and young.scot, Scotland’s leading online information hub for young people. ReRoute members also encouraged their peers to fill in (c. 250) paper copies of the survey.

The 1103 survey respondents were aged 11-25 (average 15.4 year old) from all 32 local council areas in Scotland. 29 per cent where male, 67 per cent were female, one per cent identified as non-binary and four per cent preferred not to say.

The insights gained through this survey inform ReRoute’s work as they develop their ideas for engaging young people in Scotland’s biodiversity. In 2018, Scotland’s Year of Young People, ReRoute will make recommendations to SNH on how to increase young people’s engagement with nature based on their insights and ideas.

All of the results in this report are rounded to the nearest number and are not weighted. Where question answers do not add up to 100% this is due to some respondents leaving the question blank.

Summary of Findings

Through this survey we have gathered some interesting insights.

• Three quarters of the young people (74 per cent) agree or strongly agree that they enjoy spending time in nature whereas only 4 per cent disagree or strongly disagree.

• 62 per cent of the young people think that their local area has nice natural space.

• Over three quarters of the respondents (76%) consider nature to be important to them.

• The majority of young people spend on average between one and three hours each week in nature.

• The majority of young people are not involved in any nature/wildlife/ conservation groups.

• There appears to be a relation between the amount of time a young person spends outdoors and their attitudes towards enjoying and protecting the natural environment.

• Young people are aware of and appreciate some of the benefits they get from nature.

• A large proportion of the young people do not know what biodiversity means and there are some misconceptions about it.

• Most young people have not heard of Scotland’s Biodiversity: A Route Map to 2020.

• TV is the most popular source of information about Scotland’s nature, with social media and education also popular.

• Young people have positive attitudes towards protecting nature but this is not necessarily reflected in their actions, be it signing petitions, participating in campaigns or considering their impact on nature.

• There are a variety of things which would encourage more young people to engage with nature, particularly sport and exercise, activities and events they can do with their friends, and things involving animals and wildlife.

The Big Picture

We asked young people about their thoughts and attitudes towards nature on a variety of issues. The results were positive and illuminating with some differences between ages and where people live.

• 74 per cent of young people agree or strongly agree that they enjoy spending time in nature whereas only four per cent disagree or strongly disagree. This is a really encouraging response suggesting that young people do enjoy some level of engagement by spending time outdoors and have a positive attitude towards this. Similar insights were found in a 2011 report on young people and the outdoors in Scotland* .

• Young people aged 21-25 were more likely to answer strongly agree (43–47 per cent) than the respondents under 21 (30-31 per cent). There was a similar link between young people who are currently university students or are employed. This possibly reflects more leisure time or choice over how they spend their free time.

• Young people who identified the area they live in as urban were less likely to answer strongly agree (29 per cent as opposed to 37 per cent for rural and 34 per cent for suburban), perhaps reflecting perceptions of accessibility of nature in urban settings.

*Scott Porter Research & Marketing (2011). Enjoying the Outdoors – attitudes and behaviour of young people in Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 470.

• Young people aged 24-25 years old were less likely to consider it important (60 per cent) than the other ages (between 69 – 79 per cent).

• Young people aged 18-20 were less likely to spend time outdoors, with only six per cent spending one to three hours and three per cent spending four to eight hours outside per week.

• 11-14 year olds were most likely to spend nine or more hours outdoors per week (16 per cent).

• The young people living in urban areas were most likely to spend less than one hour outdoors each week (19 per cent).

• There appears to be a relation between how many hours a young person spends outdoors and whether they enjoy spending time in nature and whether they consider nature important.

• There was also a link between whether a young person enjoys spending time in nature and whether they consider nature or the outdoors to be important to them.

• The majority of the respondents enjoy spending time in nature and consider nature and the outdoors important.

• The majority of the young people spend one to three or four to eight hours a week outdoors.

• Young people living in urban areas are less likely to enjoy spending time in nature and are more likely to spend less than one hour a week outdoors.

• There is a relation between how much time a young person spends outdoors and their attitude towards the natural environment.

The Local Picture

We were able to get an understanding of young people’s attitudes towards nature on a local scale by asking each respondent which local council area they live in.

• 62 per cent of respondents were positive about their local natural spaces.

• Only 19 per cent of respondents living in urban areas were very positive about their local natural spaces compared to 36 per cent of those living in rural locations thinking the same.

• Respondents are more likely are more likely to think that their area has nice natural spaces if they live in rural areas.

What does nature mean to young people?

We asked young people to tell us about what nature means to them and how they benefit from nature. The five most common themes to emerge were:

“Nature gives me time to collect my thoughts. All of my problems leave me and I feel as though I could just stay there forever.”

(17, Glasgow)

“I benefit from nature as I find it relaxing to spend time outdoors.”

(14, East Dunbartonshire)

“Nature means so much to me, as I suffer from an anxiety disorder and I find being out in amongst nature calms me down so much and helps clear my head.”

(21, Dumfries & Galloway)

“It means a lot, it makes the world so much better and beautiful.”

(15, Fife)

“Nature is a beautiful thing and it is very interesting.”

(15, Dundee)

“I think it's important that we look after nature and the environment as it's beautiful and beneficial.”

(13, Moray)

“Nature is lovely. I benefit because if I ever need to get away from it all then I can just go for for a walk”

(16, Aberdeenshire)

“I love walking my dog, taking photos and just enjoying the countryside!”

(15, Argyll & Bute)

“Nature means a lot to me as I like going for walks in nature to pass time”

(South Lanarkshire)

“I can go outside, walk my dog and look at the nice scenery”

(16, Aberdeenshire)

“Nature means to me wildlife, countryside, leaves, trees birds etc. I definitely benefit from nature, I live in a rural place so there are loads of animals, fields and trees everywhere.”

(12, Stirling)

“I love going out into the forest and just observing the surroundings - watching things go and watching how the different animals live.”

(15, Fife)

“Nature is a place where animals live and people should protect it.”

(12, East Ayrshire)

“We use plants to make food and medicine, and even as decorations. Trees also provide us with oxygen.”

(15, Scottish Borders)

“It is important as trees provide oxygen which makes people live.”

(14, Aberdeenshire)

“To me nature means life. I benefit from nature by food, drink, scenery.”

(12 Midlothian)

“I think that I benefit strongly from nature considering that trees provide oxygen to help me breathe.”

(13, West Lothian)

• The main themes were present for all ages. However, animals & wildlife was a particularly common theme for the 11-14 year old age group. Recognition of nature’s mental health and wellbeing benefits was regularly acknowledged by those in the 15-20 year old age group.

• Other interesting themes included: exercise and health, the need to preserve nature, associations with freedom and escape, new experiences, and spirituality/religion.

• There is some overlap with the main themes identified by adults for visiting the outdoors (health and exercise, to exercise a dog, to relax and unwind)*.

*TNS (2014). Scotland’s People and Nature Survey 2013/14 Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 679.

• Nature means a variety of things for young people but some common themes appear to be key links for young people and nature.

• The themes that young people recognise as ways they benefit from nature are important to consider when further engaging young people in this topic.

Scotland’s Biodiversity

We asked young people if they knew what biodiversity means and if they could identify any examples from Scotland?

• 63 per cent of the respondents stated they do not know what biodiversity means and 21 per cent answered that they do know what it means and/or were able to give some relevant examples. Only 13 per cent had heard of Scotland’s Biodiversity: A Route Map to 2020.

“Scotland has the Trossachs National Park which has a variety of plant and animal life wherever you are.”

( 20, Stirling)

“Existence of wide variety of animals in their natural habitat. Highlands and mountains of Scotland. Forests.”

(15, Aberdeenshire)

“Parks, woodland areas, Lochs are some examples of the diverse areas in Scotland full of nature.”

(19, Aberdeenshire)

“Cairngorms has a wide variety of plants and animals.”

(13, East Renfrewshire)

“Biodiversity is the range of plants and animals in a particular place.”

(15, Scottish Borders)

“Scotland contains lots of different species of animals, such as deer, red squirrels and brown trout.”

(17, Glasgow)

“I do not know I have heard of it maybe reusable energy?”

(12, Edinburgh)

“I'm not sure? Reducing carbon emissions? Planting trees? Recycling energy etc.”

(21, Falkirk)

“I think Biodiversity means 'rare species and species that are on the verge to becoming extinct’.”

(13, Highland)

“Different religions living together.”

(15, Midlothian)

“Different people coming into the country.”

(15, Glasgow)

• Older respondents (17–25) were more likely to understand what biodiversity means, perhaps reflecting progressing stages of education, learning and life experiences.

Taking Action

We were interested to find out about young people’s attitudes and behaviours towards protecting the environment.

• 87 per cent of respondents agreed or agreed strongly agree that “We need to protect the environment”. This was seen across all ages.

• 18 per cent of respondents had signed an environmental petition or participated in a campaign in the last twelve months. Half of the respondents had not but would be interested to in the future.

• One in five of the respondents do not consider the impact on nature when making everyday decisions such as about shopping or transport.

• It is interesting to compare these insights to those gathered for the adult population, for example 65 per cent of adult respondents claim to be interested in or concerned about Scotland’s biodiversity*.

• There was also a relation between the amount of time spent outdoors and how young people felt about the need to protect environment.

We asked young people about their awareness of and involvement in local wildlife or nature groups.

• 37 per cent of young people do not know of any groups in their local area and are not involved or interested in any of these groups.

• Three per cent of the responses mentioned that they were too busy to have anothe r commitment and some commented on their perceptions of the age of other people attending (much older and much younger than themselves).

• 16 per cent of respondents said they would be interested in joining a group but their main concerns were how to find out about them and accessibility (times, distance, costs, wheelchair accessibility).

• Two per cent of the respondents answered yes (only word given).

• Some of the groups or organisations most commonly cited as heard of or involved with were: RSPB Scotland, Scouts, Eco Committee at school, SSPCA, National Trust for Scotland, Guides, John Muir Trust/ Award, Woodland Trust, Bee clubs, WWF.

• 87 per cent of the respondents agree that we need to protect the natural environment.

• 50 per cent of the respondents are interested in taking action for the environment.

• The majority of respondents did not consider the impact of their decisions on the environment.

Getting Engaged

ReRoute will be working over the next twelve months to encourage young people to be engaged with biodiversity in Scotland and to enjoy nature.

To inform how we do this we asked young people about their information habits and interests or motivations for engaging with the outdoors.

• The most popular source was TV for 11-20 year olds and social media for 21-25 year olds.

• 63 per cent of respondents want to learn more about nature and how they can protect it.

• Those aged 21-23 were more likely to say yes (65 per cent) and those aged 11-14 were more likely to say no (24 per cent).

• TV, education and social media are important sources of information for young people about Scotland’s nature.

• 63 per cent of respondents want to learn more about Scotland’s nature.

• Top three themes for things that would encourage young people are, sport/excercise, social activites and outdoor activities.

During 2017 ReRoute will be prototyping ideas to engage young people in Scotland’s biodiversity. In 2018, Scotland’s Year of Young People, ReRoute will present their insights and recommendations to SNH.

Young people have a significant role to play in encouraging organisations and communities to adopt a more collaborative culture, focusing resources to effectively meet the needs of individuals and communities. To support this, Young Scot’s co-design service involves young people systematically creating, designing and delivering solutions in collaboration with organisations.

ReRoute are working through the co-design process, meaning young people are involved much earlier in the decision making process through a highly participative approach developing informed insights, ideas, recommendations and solutions for policy and practice.