Why Our Children Need the Countryside

There are few things more satisfying than a walk in the countryside. Nature has a wonderful effect on most people: it can make them happier, calmer and more relaxed.

Children and Nature

Nature is also an important part of growing up. The creatures of nature have the ability to astound young children and help them to develop an appreciation for the natural world and all that it has to offer.

Sadly, there are children that never get to appreciate the beauty of nature. Many children who live in large cities across the world have never learnt how to grow vegetables and flowers, have never seen animals roaming wild and have never breathed the clean, fresh air of the countryside. This issue raises a lot of debate.

Unfortunately, some parents do not feel that access to nature is an important part of growing up whilst many other parents feel that nature and the countryside offer an important education that each child should receive from an early age.

Who’s to Blame?

This is not just a problem that can be blamed on parents. Many parents simply do not have the options available to them. The lack of green within many cities is shocking and worrying for many people. It is for this reason that many campaigns and petitions have been formulated in order to create more green spaces within large cities in many countries. Such spaces would give people the chance to appreciate nature to the full within the confines of a city. Families can have picnics on the grass, children can grow up playing football in parks that are not made from concrete and children can finally understand what nature is about.

Start at Home

However the battle to help children appreciate what nature has to offer first starts within the home and does indeed rest with parents. It is possible to find plant and flower growing kits that can sit on a windowsill or a table within the home or the flat.

Growing foods such as cress is easy and will give a child appreciation for growing vegetables and perhaps even fruit. Such activities will not only help family members to bond but may also give children a more rounded appreciation of the world.

Even within the home environment it is possible to purchase growing aids such as topsoil for different fruits and vegetables. Keeping a bag of topsoil within the home will help any child to easily plant and grow seeds and other flowers with minimal effort and mess. A garden is not strictly necessary in order to grow things! Bags of topsoil are not expensive and yet such a soil is packed with nutrients and organic matter that help plants and vegetables to grow to their full potential, even within the restrained confines of a concrete jungle.

This post was written by James Harper on behalf of Boughton Loam and Turf Management. James enjoys gardening and grows fruit and vegetables at home.