Nature's role in shaping children and young people

The two of them had been playing by a shallow stream and had been throwing stones into the water. One had gone astray; hence the accident. On recounting this to a colleague, he asked jokingly whether or not the case had been referred to the Local Safeguarding Children Board. We both laughed. But it occurred to me that only a few years ago such a comment would not have even entered his head. Now it is often the first thing that comes to mind — if only as a joke.

When you ask adults what were the best things about childhood, they routinely recall what they think of as the halcyon days of unsupervised activity and exploration, often in woods or other natural surroundings. They were days of adventure, fun and, although they didn't know it then and may not recognise it now, a growing understanding of group relationships, hierarchies, power plays, conflict, victimisation (and how to deal with it), successes and failures. And occasional accidents, particularly bruises, cuts and sometimes broken bones.