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As part of our commitment to promoting better climate and nature education for young people across the UK, the University is developing its own Nature Park aligned with the National Education Nature Park scheme.
The University of Reading Nature Park aims to break down barriers to environmental and outdoor education by offering local schools the chance to engage with nature-based learning experiences across the University estate.
We are developing the University of Reading Nature Park to help young people gain a deeper appreciation of our changing natural world.
The Nature Park will help pupils build a connection to nature through discovery and learning, while developing green skills such as data collection, species identification, and habitat management – skills they can take back to their school or college.
Activities can contribute to real scientific research into nature recovery, and boost biodiversity locally and across the country. They will help children learn more about the future of the world locally, nationally and globally.
By participating in the Nature Park, we can collectively improve both the physical and mental wellbeing of young people through spending time outdoors. We will also empower children and students to voice their concerns about the environment and gain the vital skills needed to take action for their future.
Together, we will create an opportunity for green skills development in areas including:
identification and ecology
recording and interpreting data
creative thinking and decision making
communication
environmental stewardship
horticulture.
The University of Reading has been pioneering outdoor education for over 100 years, led by Eliza Chattaway who taught primary education at the University College of Reading – the precursor to the University of Reading – alongside her work as headteacher in local schools. Wanting to break away from the classroom and rote textbook learning, Chattaway was inspired by the cycle of nature, as well as the agricultural education at the University College.
Recognising the educational benefits of time spent outdoors, Eliza Chattaway would take her pupils on nature walks, including visits to what is now our Whiteknights campus. In 1912, Chattaway published School Nature Rambles, the story of a year at Redlands Primary School, documenting the nature walks and offering advice on nature lesson planning.
Chattaway’s work laid the foundation for teaching and research at Reading. In our 2026 centenary year, we’ll celebrate our legacy as a leading climate, environment and outdoor education institution by developing an outdoor education offering for both students and local school children.
As part of our centenary, we’re transforming the Walled Garden into a new hub for outdoor learning. It will showcase university research and our history of outdoor education, linking to National Curriculum themes, including:
We will also have an 'Action Zone' that will let pupils take part in hands-on tasks and experiments.
Through showcasing ideas for enhancing biodiversity on school campuses, we hope to inspire young people to apply their findings to enhance their own school environments, create new or improved green spaces in education settings for nature to thrive and to support Climate Action Plans.
For more information, to keep up to date with the project, or to set up an introductory meeting please contact the Nature Park team.
Over the next 18 months, we will carry out pilot activities with local schools, building on our established locations and creating exciting new elements for the University of Reading Nature Park.
We will consult with partners such as the Natural History Museum (NHM) and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) to understand the evolving national scheme.
By 2026, our centenary year, we hope to create a living laboratory that will benefit our students and local school children. This living laboratory will bring together locations such as Langley Mead, the Harris Garden and the lakeside meadow, as well as the University’s Atmospheric Observatory and Cole Museum of Zoology,