Cardiff University & Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust

Generation Wild: Connecting children from disadvantaged communities with nature

Children from disadvantaged backgrounds have fewer opportunities to connect with nature. Generation Wild (GW) is an innovative partnership between Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), the charity for wetlands, and Cardiff University, which provides opportunities for children from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds to connect with nature at WWT wetland centres and in their local communities.

This transformative initiative is breaking down barriers and has already connected more than 37,000 children with nature over the past three years. WWT delivers the programme and an interdisciplinary team from Cardiff University is the educational partner, helping WWT to continuously identify and increase the benefits of the programme.

Collaborating with scientists to demonstrate the benefits of Generation Wild has helped WWT win an additional £1.8m in funding to continue the programme for another three years, giving 90,000 children the opportunity to connect with nature and carry forward a lifelong sense of belonging in the natural world.

What the Judges Thought

This is a great initiative to address the disparity in nature connection opportunities with the potential to act as a catalyst for change across the environmental education sector. The project is thoughtful, focused, and scaleable.

What it Means to Win

"Winning this award is a testament to our staff and students' commitment to social justice, inclusivity, and anti-racism. The cross-team collaboration that brought Generation Wild to life reflects how our values and work align in a socially responsible University that strives to make the world a better place." 

Top 3 Learnings

1. Cultural barriers are as significant as financial barriers for disadvantaged groups connecting with nature.
2. Teachers and family members play an important role in connecting children with nature long-term.
3. University staff and students and NGO staff have a great deal to learn from each other.