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Gill Oliver talks to BBOWT's Chris Williams who is helping to instil a love of wildlife in schoolchildren as part of the Learning Outside the Classroom initiative Concerns about stranger danger and the growth of computer and video gaming mean children spend more time indoors and are less confident in the natural outdoor world than their parents or grandparents were.

Viewed in the context of the environmental challenges we are facing, this is a worrying irony, according to Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust's head of people and wildlife, Chris Williams.

"Just when it is more important than ever that people understand the natural environment, we are faced with a generation of kids who don't have as much experience of it," he explained.

"If you want to change things, you have to change attitudes. Therefore, teaching youngsters to love the natural world is crucial. We need to tune them in, get them to understand, appreciate and fall in love with nature because these are going to be the decision-makers of the future.

"It's vital we catch them as young as possible," he added.

The Government's Learning Outside The Classroom manifesto, launched in 2006, promotes the idea of teaching in places other than the schoolroom. This includes venues such as museums, libraries, farms, school grounds and nature reserves.

All the research points to the fact that teaching in a different setting is extremely valuable, stimulating youngsters and allowing them to learn through experience.

However, in recent years, schools have been more reluctant to go off-premises because of concerns about risk and health and safety issues.

Chris believes that the LOTC initiative could be a small but important step forward in reversing this trend because it encourages teachers to take pupils out and about, as an official part of government policy.

"We have been involved in educational work for almost 40 years but we have noticed schools seem more willing lately to embrace what we are trying to do," he said.

"This is a way for schools to minimise the risk. We offer extremely safe, thought-through experiences where staff ratios are higher than they are in playgrounds or classrooms," he pointed out.

School children can spend the day at BBOWT's own environmental educational centre and extensive nature reserve at Sutton Courtenay, near Didcot.

In addition, the wildlife trust encourages schools to run their own environmental trips and initiatives by giving them practical advice and support.

It is involved with around 70 schools in Oxfordshire, most of which involve key stage 1 and key stage 2 pupils at primary level.

Equipment, such as that required for pond dipping, can be borrowed free of charge and there are information packs and leaflets available.

Representatives from BBOWT go into schools to help set up environmental clubs or activities and training is available for teachers and volunteers "We show schools how to do things for themselves, for instance, we have a school's Wildlife Watch initiative which has been running for some time," said Chris.

"It is a membership package where the school joins the trust and we help them operate schemes and initiatives in and outside school grounds," he added.

The Trust has several nature reserves around the county, some of which include features such as custom-built dipping platforms that school parties can take advantage of.

Oxfordshire lends itself well to environmental learning initiatives, according to Chris.

"We are lucky because our county is the most rural in the south east. Apart from Oxford there aren't really any large settlements, they are all smaller, rural towns.

"And even Oxford itself has lots of places right in the centre where you have access to exciting wildlife sites," he commented.

Although not Oxfordshire born, Chris, 39, has strong connections to the area.

"I've been familiar with the people, the landscape and the wildlife from a very young age," he explained.

He's been with BBOWT for two years and before that worked for the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, reflecting a love of the environment and wildlife that started early.

"I grew up in a house with quite a big garden, part of which was overgrown. So I had daily exposure to wild space."

"There wasn't much to watch on TV then and no videos, PlayStations or X-Boxes so, like most people born before the 1980s, I played outside all the time," he recalled.

Now living in Thame with his wife and two primary-school age children, Chris is only too aware of the way things have changed.

"On a personal level I can see the difference between my own experience and my children's and am trying to make sure they don't have an indoor childhood," he added.

In professional terms, he feels passionately about wanting to offer the trust's services to a wider spectrum of schools within the county.

"There are still quite a few schools in Oxfordshire that we haven't yet reached. We want to be for everybody not just the select few," he said.

n For more information about BBOWT and its work, visit the website: www.bbowt.org.uk

11:51am Monday 14th January 2008

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