DEVON Wildlife Trust has launched a campaign to make 'every child wild' after a new poll revealed parents have concerns over children's lack of wildlife experience.
The YouGov poll found that 91 percent of parents of children aged 18 and under think that having access to nature and wildlife is important, but 78 percent are concerned that youngsters don't spend enough time interacting with nature and wildlife.
DWT’s Paul Martin said: “We’re trying to lead the way in outdoor learning and early nature experiences through our Wildlife Watch groups, school outreach work, volunteering opportunities, and the huge number of wild events that we offer every year.
"We hope Every Child Wild will get people talking and sharing ideas about how we can all help to put the wild back in childhood. We need to empower families, teachers and schools to ensure children have access to nature and to engage with it on a regular basis.
"Together, we are all nurturing the next generation of naturalists, animal-lovers, birdwatchers, explorers, scientists, campaigners and politicians to try and slow the decline of nature.”
The poll also found that 57 percent of parents said their children spend a little less or a lot less time outdoors than they did, 71 percent of children have never seen a lizard in the wild in the UK, and more than a third (37 percent) have never seen a hedgehog.
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