The programme aims to double the number of farm visits by school-age children to 100,000 in its first year and double the number of children making educational visits to National Nature Reserves to 60,000.
Marine conservation will also be promoted to 50,000 children and a £23m access to nature grant scheme will connect children from deprived urban areas to the natural world.
Poul Chistensen, acting chair of Natural England, said: "Whether through pond dipping or tree climbing, nature-based activities can play an important role in the educational and social development of children."
According to Natural England's Childhood and Nature survey, less than 10 per cent of children play in natural places such as woods, countryside and heaths. This compares with 40 per cent of adults who said they played in natural areas when they were young.
Some 81 per cent of children said they would like more freedom to play outside, but nearly half said they were not allowed to play outside unsupervised and nearly a quarter were worried to be out alone.
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